D8 – Research Rigor as a Critical Component of Integrated Healthcare: Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Diabetes Pilot Program

Summary

Individuals with a severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) have over twice the risk of mortality than those without SPMI, which is partially attributed to a greater burden of chronic conditions. Individuals with SPMI are more likely to have diabetes, and suffer more severe consequences from diabetes than those with diabetes alone. Chronic disease self-management programs have been tested and used primarily within the general population. Individuals with co-occurring SPMI and diabetes, however, encounter additional barriers to managing diabetes that are not addressed in traditional programs. Self-management programs designed specifically for this population are critical in addressing health and health disparities among individuals with SPMI and diabetes. In this session the presenter will guide the audience through the elements of developing, implementing, and evaluating an innovative pilot intervention in an integrated healthcare setting, using our diabetes self-management pilot as a teaching tool. Session participants will learn, practice, and receive tools for successful pilot implementation and rigorous process and intervention evaluation, to enable them to successfully implement a pilot in an integrated healthcare context. During the session participants will brainstorm potential challenges they might encounter in the implementation and evaluation process. Then, utilizing a logic model to guide planning, participants will identify process measures and outcomes that would be critical in successful evaluation of an example pilot project. Lastly, participants will explore mixed methods analysis in the evaluation stage of their pilot project, and how evaluation methods guide reporting and communications. At the conclusion of the session participants will receive resources to supplement the information presented, including: logic model template, quick primer on mixed methods analysis tools, and additional links to resources on process evaluation and mixed methods analysis. Anticipated Session Outline 1. Overview of Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare and integrated diabetes care to develop context for the session and activities (3 min) 2. The basics on how to develop a pilot program, using Cascadia’s work as an example to guide instruction and discussion (6 min) a. Using evidence and research b. Planning c. Implementation d. Evaluation 3. The logic model as a tool to guide steps a-d a. Didactic instruction (5 min) b. Exercise using a logic model to plan implementation and evaluation – Barriers and supports brainstorm and logic model development (15 min) 4. Evaluation of pilot program using mixed methods research a. Didactic instruction (7 min) b. Exercise developing measures/outcomes based on program goals, and guided by logic model (15 min) 5. You’ve evaluated your program, so now what? (7 min) a. Quick activity around creative approaches to reporting and communicating results 6. Questions/final remarks