Group Lifestyle Balance DVD: A Novel Media Approach to Implementing Primary Prevention

Objective: To develop and deliver a modified version of Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention via DVD.

Methods: The University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Prevention Support Center (DPSC) modified the DPP lifestyle intervention to Group Lifestyle Balance (GLB), a 12-session group program with goals of 7% weight loss and 150 minutes/week of physical activity. A DVD of the program was subsequently created in collaboration with the US Air Force Center of Excellence for Medical Multimedia.  Patients of a California primary care practice with pre-diabetes and/or the metabolic syndrome have been enrolled in a long-distance pilot project to evaluate the DVD.  Participants chose GLB-Group or GLB-DVD delivery.  Participants that selected GLB-DVD delivery viewed one session of the GLB-DVD each week; a DPSC prevention professional contacted the participants via telephone weekly to provide support.  Participants in GLB-Group met face to face with a prevention professional weekly.  Both groups monitored food intake and physical activity.  All participants completed baseline assessment visits; participants are currently being followed for one year.

Results: A total of 48 participants enrolled in the pilot study, (34 female, 14 male).  Participants were primarily white (83%), with a mean age of 59.7 years.  The mean BMI, glucose, triglyceride, and blood pressure levels were 34.1 kg/m², 102.4 mg/dl, 146.7 mg/dl, and 124/72 mm/Hg respectively.  Twenty-six participants chose face to face group and 22 chose the DVD delivery mode.

Conclusion: The GLB-DVD could offer an alternative option for diabetes prevention intervention delivery.