Linking High Risk Postpartum Women with a Technology Enabled Health Coaching Program to Reduce Diabetes Risk and Improve Wellbeing: Program Description, Case Studies, and Recommendations for Community Health Coaching Programs

Abstract EN

Background.

Low-income minority women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (pGDM) or high BMIs have increased risk for chronic illnesses postpartum.

Although the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) provides an evidence-based model for reducing diabetes risk, few community-based interventions have adapted this program for pGDM women.

Methods.

STAR MAMA is an ongoing randomized control trial (RCT) evaluating a hybrid HIT/Health Coaching DPP-based 20-week postpartum program for diabetes prevention compared with education from written materials at baseline.

Eligibility includes women 18–39 years old, ≥32 weeks pregnant, and GDM or BMI > 25.

Clinic- and community-based recruitment in San Francisco and Sonoma Counties targets 180 women.

Sociodemographic and health coaching data from a preliminary sample are presented.

Results.

Most of the 86 women included to date (88%) have GDM, 80% were identified as Hispanic/Latina, 78% have migrant status, and most are Spanish-speaking.

Women receiving the intervention indicate high engagement, with 86% answering 1+ calls.

Health coaching callbacks last an average of 9 minutes with range of topics discussed.

Case studies presented convey a range of emotional, instrumental, and health literacy-related supports offered by health coaches.

Discussion.

The DPP-adapted HIT/health coaching model highlights the possibility and challenge of delivering DPP content to postpartum women in community settings.

This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02240420.