Brief report
A novel approach to diabetes prevention: Evaluation of the Group Lifestyle Balance program delivered via DVD

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Abstract

This pilot project evaluated the Group Lifestyle Balance program (GLB), an adaptation of the DPP lifestyle intervention, delivered via DVD with remote participant support provided by the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Prevention Support Center. Results suggest that GLB-DVD with remote support may provide an effective alternative for GLB delivery.

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Research design and methods

The GLB is a 12-session lifestyle intervention with the same goals for weight loss and physical activity as the DPP, and has been evaluated in several settings [4], [6], [7]. The DPSC collaborated with the US Air Force Center of Excellence for Medical Multimedia to create a DVD of the GLB. The GLB-DVD is a series of taped sessions of a staged group following a script that was developed to closely follow the program.

Effectiveness was assessed for the intervention delivered via DVD as well as

Results

A total of 48 individuals enrolled (34 female, 14 male). Participants were primarily white (83%), with a mean age of 59.7 years; 22 participants enrolled in GLB-DVD and 26 in GLB-GROUP. A higher proportion of individuals enrolled in GLB-DVD vs. GLB-GROUP reported having some college or higher level education (86.4% vs. 61.6%, p = 0.05). In addition, those in GLB-DVD had a significantly higher mean fasting glucose (107.6 mg/dl vs. 99 mg/dl, p = 0.008) but significantly lower HbA1c level (5.8% vs. 6%, p

Conclusion

These results suggest that the GLB program delivered via DVD with remote participant support was effective in reducing risk factors for diabetes and CVD in high-risk individuals. Although the intent was not to compare GLB-DVD to group delivery, the results suggest that the GLB-DVD may be similarly effective and useful in engaging at-risk individuals not interested in attending group meetings. While only 63.6% of the GLB-DVD participants attended the post-intervention assessment, all active

Conflict of interest

The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the United States Air Force Center of Excellence for Medical Multimedia for collaboration in creating the GLB-DVD, as well as the prevention professionals that implemented this project. This material is based on research sponsored by The Air Force Surgeon General's Office under agreement number W81XWH-07-2-0080. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon. The views

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