Presenter Information
Anannya Pushkarna, OMS-II¹; Melanie Turk, PhD²
¹Duquesne University Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
²Duquesne University School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Abstract
Introduction:
Prediabetes is a prevalent condition among older adults and represents a crucial opportunity where early interventions can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle modifications are first-line management. The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP), a 12-month lifestyle change program initiated in 2018, is fully covered by Medicare, yet uptake remains limited. This study assessed healthcare providers’ beliefs about prediabetes and awareness of the MDPP.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was administered electronically to a national sample of physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs). Questions addressed beliefs about prediabetes, barriers to care, and knowledge/awareness of the MDPP. Likert-scale items were collapsed into “Strongly agree or agree”, “Neither disagree nor agree”, and “Strongly disagree or disagree” for analysis. Descriptive statistics compared responses across provider types.
Results:
A total of 195 providers completed the survey, including physicians (n=92), NPs (n=50), and PAs (n=53). Most agreed prediabetes is a significant public health issue (95.4%) and screening should be a priority (81.5%). Lifestyle modifications were viewed as effective (93.3%), and providers felt confident managing prediabetes (78.5%). However, substantial barriers to care were identified, including time constraints in performing the screening and educating the patient, the patient’s difficulty with lifestyle changes, and the lack of accessible resources for the elderly.
Although 61.4% of providers believed that patients who complete the MDPP would benefit and have less chance of progressing to type 2 diabetes, only 34.4% were familiar with the program, 29.1% knew how to refer patients to the program, and 35.4% knew that it is covered by Medicare. No differences were found among types of providers.
Conclusion:
Healthcare providers recognize the importance of preventing and treating prediabetes and understand the importance of the MDPP. However, knowledge about the MDPP is lacking. Education and interventions should be implemented to improve providers' knowledge and familiarity with the MDPP to prevent type 2 diabetes in older adults.
School
Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine; School of Nursing
Advisor
Dr. Melanie Turk
Submission Type
Paper
Awareness of the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Among Healthcare Providers Caring for Older Adults
Introduction:
Prediabetes is a prevalent condition among older adults and represents a crucial opportunity where early interventions can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle modifications are first-line management. The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP), a 12-month lifestyle change program initiated in 2018, is fully covered by Medicare, yet uptake remains limited. This study assessed healthcare providers’ beliefs about prediabetes and awareness of the MDPP.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was administered electronically to a national sample of physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs). Questions addressed beliefs about prediabetes, barriers to care, and knowledge/awareness of the MDPP. Likert-scale items were collapsed into “Strongly agree or agree”, “Neither disagree nor agree”, and “Strongly disagree or disagree” for analysis. Descriptive statistics compared responses across provider types.
Results:
A total of 195 providers completed the survey, including physicians (n=92), NPs (n=50), and PAs (n=53). Most agreed prediabetes is a significant public health issue (95.4%) and screening should be a priority (81.5%). Lifestyle modifications were viewed as effective (93.3%), and providers felt confident managing prediabetes (78.5%). However, substantial barriers to care were identified, including time constraints in performing the screening and educating the patient, the patient’s difficulty with lifestyle changes, and the lack of accessible resources for the elderly.
Although 61.4% of providers believed that patients who complete the MDPP would benefit and have less chance of progressing to type 2 diabetes, only 34.4% were familiar with the program, 29.1% knew how to refer patients to the program, and 35.4% knew that it is covered by Medicare. No differences were found among types of providers.
Conclusion:
Healthcare providers recognize the importance of preventing and treating prediabetes and understand the importance of the MDPP. However, knowledge about the MDPP is lacking. Education and interventions should be implemented to improve providers' knowledge and familiarity with the MDPP to prevent type 2 diabetes in older adults.