Study protocol: The Technology-Enhanced Coaching (TEC) program to improve diabetes outcomes - A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Racial and ethnic minority adults with diabetes living in under-resourced communities face multiple barriers to sustaining self-management behaviors necessary to improve diabetes outcomes. Peer support and decision support tools each have been associated with improved diabetes outcomes. Methods: 290 primarily African American adults with poor glycemic control were recruited from the Detroit Veteran's Administration Hospital and randomized to Technology-Enhanced Coaching (TEC) or Peer Coaching alone. Participants in both arms were assigned a peer coach trained in autonomy-supportive approaches. Coaches are diabetes patients with prior poor glycemic control who now have good control. Participants met face-to-face initially with their coach to review diabetes education materials and develop an action plan. Educational materials in the TEC arm are delivered via a web-based, educational tool tailored with each participant's personalized health data (iDecide). Over six months, coaches call their assigned participants once a week to provide support for weekly action steps. Data are also collected on an Observational Control group with no contact with study staff. Changes in A1c, blood pressure, other patient-centered outcomes and mediators and moderators of intervention effects will be assessed. Results: 290 participants were enrolled. Discussion: Tailored e-Health tools with educational content may enhance the effectiveness of peer coaching programs to better prepare patients to set self-management goals, identify action plans, and discuss treatment options with their health care providers. The study will provide insights for scalable self-management support programs for diabetes and chronic illnesses that require high levels of sustained patient self-management.