Collective knowledge: using a consensus conference approach to develop recommendations for physical activity and...

Area of Science:

• Lifestyle Medicine
• Public Health
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines is crucial for managing type 2 diabetes (T2D).
• Patient perspectives are vital for developing effective, sustainable lifestyle interventions.
• A gap often exists between expert recommendations and patient-centered needs in T2D care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To foster collaboration between individuals with T2D and diabetes professionals.
• To develop evidence-based strategies for enhancing adherence to diet and physical activity in T2D.
• To generate actionable recommendations for improving T2D self-management support.

Main Methods:

• A consensus conference format was employed, bringing together a lay panel of 15 individuals with T2D and 7 diabetes experts.
• Expert presentations on relevant T2D management topics were delivered, followed by facilitated discussions.
• A subgroup of the lay panel synthesized conference discussions into a final set of recommendations.

Main Results:

• Recommendations were categorized into three key areas: diagnosis/awareness, education, and ongoing support.
• Specific suggestions included increasing public T2D awareness, lifelong self-monitoring, periodic patient education, professional-expert interaction, community support, and peer groups.
• The developed strategies aim to better meet the needs of individuals living with T2D.

Conclusions:

• The consensus conference successfully generated patient-centered recommendations for improving T2D dietary and physical activity adherence.
• These recommendations provide a framework for researchers designing T2D lifestyle interventions.
• Policy makers and health promoters can utilize these findings to enhance T2D management programs.