Understanding Certified Diabetes Educators' Opinions about Their Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs

Objective:  The 15 Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) programs in Vermont are diverse, are not evidence-based, and have dissatisfying attributes according to the certified diabetes educators who administer them. Our objective was to survey CDEs responsible for administering the DSME programs statewide concerning the educators’ specific reasons for satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and to question/inform the CDEs about other self-management programs from Stanford University recently introduced in Vermont

Methods:  We developed a brief online survey that was followed by a more extensive telephone interview.

Results: 14 of 15 CDEs completed the online survey, and 12 of 14 consented for the phone interview. Their dissatisfaction stems from low program attendance, limited provider referrals, and limited reimbursement (for those programs that charge for services). Patient barriers to attendance identified by the CDEs include lack of transportation, expense, and a perception that consumers do not think DSME is an important part of their diabetes care. While all CDEs were familiar with and supportive of Stanford’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Program offered statewide in Vermont, only 7 of 12 had heard about Stanford’s newer Diabetes Self-Management Program, and they feared that the latter would provide competition with their current DSME programs.

Conclusion:  The Stanford Diabetes Self-Management Program will require more skillful marketing, and a slower roll-out than the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. Telephone interview responses from individual CDEs are helping to inform this process, for which the ultimate goal is quality improvement and evidence-based practice for DSME.