Training clinicians to facilitate diabetes group visits.

Introduction: Managing diabetes in community clinics often presents substantial challenges. Diabetes group visits, shared medical appointments involving a clinician, offer a potential solution to these challenges. However, there is a need for training clinicians to effectively lead and facilitate these group visits.

Aim: The aim of this study is to develop and assess a training program designed to equip clinician learners with the skills to facilitate diabetes group visits.

Methods: Using the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) as a guiding framework, we developed a 3-hour virtual training program for clinician learners at two community clinics. The training covered group visit facilitation and the logistics of 1:1 clinician-patient encounters. For the patient encounter component, we applied evidence-based guidelines, such as those from the American Diabetes Association, to create novel algorithms specifying low-cost medications for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Training effectiveness was evaluated through learner participation (6-10 learners per site), knowledge improvement measured via pre- and post-tests, case studies, and learner feedback.

Results: Clinics successfully met their clinician recruitment targets. Learners showed proficiency in applying the medication algorithms through five case studies. Knowledge improved significantly from the pretest (46.36%) to the posttest (92.95%) (p < 0.001). Learner feedback indicated high satisfaction with the training's structure, content, and relevance, particularly in relation to using the algorithms to manage diabetes in low-income settings.

Discussion: This study demonstrates the successful development of a diabetes group visit training for clinicians, as evidenced by recruitment success, knowledge improvement, and positive feedback. The low-cost medication algorithms served as a valuable resource for clinicians.

Clinical Trial: NCT04835493.