Relationship Among Diabetes Distress, Health Literacy, Diabetes Education, Patient-Provider Communication and Diabetes Self-Care.

Objectives: Mechanisms underlying relationships among patients' health literacy, diabetes distress, diabetes education, and provider counseling for self-care of chronic conditions are unclear. This study tested these relationships using SEM with adult patients with comorbid diabetes and hypertension in rural WV.

Methods: Ninety-one participants of a 12-week self-management program reported on diabetes self-care (diet, exercise, blood glucose (BG) monitoring) and related provider counseling.

Improving Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Symptoms Using a Team-Based Approach.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States (US), with West Virginia bearing a disproportionate disease burden. Complex COPD cases can be difficult to manage during a standard primary care provider (PCP) visit, and pharmacological treatment regimens should be individually tailored to each patient.

Methods: To address these needs, the West Virginia University Department of Family Medicine created an interdisciplinary COPD specialty clinic that uses a team-based approach to treat patients with COPD.