Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Platform for Diabetes Management, Training and Support

ABSTRACT The Specific Aim of this proposal is to test the feasibility of developing a web-based peer mentor training and mentor-mentee matching system to help patients better manage their diabetes through mentoring. Effective self-management of diabetesis the key to improving diabetes outcomes and reducing costs. Self-management includes medication adherence, self-monitoring, healthy eating, and physical activity. Yet, many patients do not effectively sustain these required behaviors. Trained peer mentors successfully managing their own diabetes are an effective resource to help struggling patients with uncontrolled diabetes. Randomized clinical trials led by our team (Thom et al. 2013 and Long et al. 2012) found that peer-to-peer mentoring can result ina clinically significant reduction of HbA1c levels (one point), thus improving the quality of life for patients. However, two major challenges prevent widespread adoption of this cost-effective, evidence-based intervention: (1) training peer mentors curre