Peer coaching to improve diabetes self-management among low-income black veteran men: A mixed methods assessment of enrollment and engagement

Abstract

PURPOSE We undertook a study to ascertain patient characteristics associated with enrollment and engagement in a type 2 diabetes peer health coaching program at an urban health care facility serving predominantly Black veteran men, to improve the targeting of such programs. METHODS A total of 149 patients declined enrollment in a randomized controlled trial but provided sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial informa-tion. A total of 290 patients enrolled and were randomized to 2 peer coaching programs; they provided sociodemographic, clinical, and survey data, and were analyzed according to their level of program engagement (167 engaged, 123 did not engage) irrespective of randomization group. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 engaged participants. RESULTS Patients who enrolled were more likely to be Black men, have higher levels of education, have higher baseline hemoglobin A1c levels, describe their diabetes self-management as “fair” or “poor,” and agree they “find it easy to get close to others” (P