Supplemental Text Message Support With the National Diabetes Prevention Program: Pragmatic Comparative Effectiveness...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) is evidence-based but needs strategies to improve effectiveness, particularly for underserved populations.
• Text messaging interventions show promise for improving NDPP delivery and addressing health disparities.
• Previous research demonstrated the efficacy of a stand-alone text messaging program (SMS4PreDM) based on the NDPP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of in-person NDPP classes with and without supplementary SMS4PreDM.
• To determine if text messaging enhances in-person NDPP delivery for a safety net patient population.
• To evaluate impacts on attendance and weight loss outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving patients at risk for diabetes from 2015-2017.
• Participants were enrolled in in-person NDPP, SMS4PreDM, or both.
• Analysis focused on comparing in-person NDPP with and without SMS4PreDM using multivariable regressions for attendance and weight loss.

Main Results:

• A total of 488 participants were analyzed, with 48.4% receiving supplemental text messages.
• Participants using SMS4PreDM were younger, with higher proportions of women and Hispanic individuals.
• Attendance and weight loss outcomes were comparable between the in-person NDPP with and without SMS4PreDM groups.

Conclusions:

• Supplemental text messaging did not significantly increase attendance or weight loss in the in-person NDPP.
• Further research is required to identify optimal strategies for improving NDPP effectiveness.
• The findings suggest that text messaging alone may not be sufficient to enhance traditional in-person programs.