The Aging, Community and Health Research Unit Community Partnership Program (ACHRU-PPC) - PROJECT COMPLETED

Diabetes Self-Management in Seniors: Community Partnership Program of the Research Unit on the Linkages Between Aging, Health and Community (Canada)

Project description
The Aging, Community and Health Research Unit Community Partnership Program (ACHRU CPP) is a 6-month self-management intervention for older adults with diabetes and other chronic conditions and their family/friend caregivers. The research program builds on our prior work and is designed with scale-up in mind.

 

Study Aim
To test the ACHRU CPP in diverse primary care and community settings, with diverse populations and across jurisdictions and plan for scale-up.

 

Study Design
A multi-site, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial with equal emphasis on examination of implementation and effectiveness of the ACHRU CPP.

 

Settings
The CPP will be implemented in primary care settings or diabetes education centres in Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island (2 sites per province, 6 sites in total), in partnership with community-based agencies (e.g., YMCA, seniors centres).

 

Participants
A total of 44 community-living older adults with diabetes and at least one other chronic condition and their caregivers, will be enrolled in each of the six study sites; of these, 22 participants will be randomly assigned to receive the intervention – the Aging, Community and Health Research Unit Community Partnership Program.

 

Intervention
The ACHRU CPP will be coordinated by a Registered Nurse and provided by an interprofessional team including a Registered Dietitian (RD)/Nutritionist from the primary care site or diabetes education centre and a Program Coordinator from the community partner site. Participants will be offered up to 3 home visits by the RN and/or RD/Nutritionist over 6 months, supported by phone calls. Participants will also be invited to attend 6 monthly group wellness sessions (at the community partner site) delivered by the RN, RD/Nutritionist and Community Program Coordinator. Each session will include education, exercise, a light meal and peer support.

 

Timeline
Recruitment will begin in May, 2019 and will end in November, 2019. The intervention period will start in May, 2019 and end in May, 2020 (13 months). 

 

Community Advisory Boards
A Community Advisory Board will be formed in each of the study sites that includes patients and caregivers, community representatives (e.g., providers, managers, policy makers). The overall goal of the CABs is to provide advice to the research team on how to tailor and adapt the program to the local setting.

Coordonnators