Linking Community Resources in Diabetes Care: a Role for Technology?

Abstract

Designing and implementing effective lifestyle modification strategies remains one of the great challenges in diabetes care. Historically, programs have focused on individual behavior change with little or no attempt to integrate change within the broader social framework or community context. However, these contextual factors have been shown to be associated with poor diabetes outcomes, particularly in low-income minority populations. Recent evidence suggests that one way to address these disparities is to match patient needs to existing community resources. Not only does this position patients to more quickly adapt behavior in a practical way, but this also refers patients back to their local communities where a support mechanism is in place to sustain healthy behavior. Technology offers a new and promising platform for connecting patients to meaningful resources (also referred to as “assets”). This paper summarizes several noteworthy innovations that use technology as a practical bridge between healthcare and community-based resources that promote diabetes self-care.

A Real-Time IVR Platform for Community Radio

“…Prior research in resource-limited settings has examined the role of mobile technology in supporting self-management of Type 2 diabetes and maternal health in the individual [10,11,19]. Other studies have realized more communityoriented approaches towards the management of Type 2 diabetes and maternal health [16,31]. Olmen et al [23], who studied the effectiveness of text messaging as a Type 2 diabetes self-management education tool in three countries, identified the value of text messages as a means of enabling community members who experience similar challenges to share their experiences.…”

Experiences of Community Violence Among Adults with Chronic Conditions: Qualitative Findings from Chicago

“…Instead, prioritizing concerns about community violence may help providers identify common challenges that are potentially intervenable (e.g., daytime appointments, mail-order prescriptions, referrals to safe resources). 28 Identifying such challenges will also be critical for working with public health and social service agencies to advance collective efforts, for instance, in the navigation of community-based resources, improving community resource infrastructure, and addressing social needs in affected communities.…”

Achieving the Quadruple Aim: Treating Patients as People by Screening for and Addressing the Social Determinants of Health

“…However, even with referrals from emergency providers, an online platform, or social work involvement, many patients fail to connect to resources because of physical illness, comorbid substance use or psychiatric illness, or any number of underlying challenges. 26 With these barriers in mind, as well as a scarcity of ED social workers, EDs have experimented with resource navigation, in which community health workers, volunteers, or peers assist patients with step-by-step resource navigation, resulting in a warm handoff to community partners and resources such as food banks, social service agencies, and housing providers. Examples include the Health Advocates of Alameda Health System, the Health Advocates at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and the FIND Desk at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland.…”