Structured support from family and friends may boost patient activation and healthy eating among people with diabetes, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Ann Marie Rosland, MD, MS, and colleagues assessed whether the Caring Others Increasing Engagement in Patient Aligned Care Teams (CO-IMPACT) intervention improves patient activation, diabetes management, and outcomes compared with standard care. The analysis included 239 patient-supporter dyads who were followed for 12-15 months. Patients randomly assigned to CO-IMPACT had greater 12-month improvements in Patient Activation Measure-13 scores. However, there was no significant improvement in UK Prospective Diabetes Study 5-year, diabetes-specific cardiac event risk scores. Greater 12-month improvements in healthy eating, diabetes self-efficacy, and satisfaction with health system support for the involvement of supporters were seen for patients in the CO-IMPACT arm. Improvements in A1C levels and other measures were similar between the groups.
