Implementing PDSA Cycles to Expand Reach of Self-Management Education in the Post-COVID Era

ABSTRACT

Background

COVID-19 reduced participation in our region’s evidence-based chronic disease self-management program (SMP), despite having expanded offerings to include diverse delivery modes (e.g. virtual, mailed toolkit, phone-based group support).

Purpose

The purpose was to test various approaches of disseminating the mailed toolkit (an independent study version of the SMP) to expand reach of the program.

Methods

We ran three process improvement (PDSA) cycles. We used electronic health record data, a participant survey, and implementer feedback to guide our decision-making process throughout the iterations.

Results

Toolkits reached populations that had not previously been exposed to SMPs: individuals with type 2 diabetes who did not attend diabetes education in the past year; individuals being discharged from acute care with an admitting diagnosis related to a chronic disease; and individuals referred by their provider to the program.

Discussion

Toolkit utilization will remain low for those who are not ready to make a behavior change. Running PDSA cycles provided the necessary information for our team to make decisions about future dissemination of the mailed toolkits.

Translation to Health Education Practice

Engaging in PDSA cycles can be a helpful tool for health educators when considering how to expand reach or engage new populations of interest.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics comittee statement

This project was determined to be exempt from continuing review by The Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital Institutional Review Board.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the New York State Department of Health Rural Health Development Program under grant [DOH01-C34179GG-3450000] and Health Research, Inc. under grant [OT21-2103].