Methodology

We propose to conduct a cluster randomised controlled intervention trial involving training Practice Nurses as ‘Coaches’ to empower patients with T2D to be more actively engaged with their GPs in the management of their condition. The study runs over three years and involves three phases:

Phase 1 (Qualitative study) - involves conducting four focus groups with people with diabetes to understand any barriers and facilitators to practice nurses (PNs) implementing the intervention.

Phase 2 (Quantitative study) - involves conducting a cluster randomized controlled intervention trial (RCT). There will be 608 patients over the age of 18 with poorly controlled T2D (HbA1c.> 7.5%) through 32 general practices in a socio-economically disadvantaged region of Metropolitan Melbourne recruited in this phase and allocated to either control (usual care) and intervention arm (Coach technique).

Phase 3 (Qualitative study) - involves workshops with a small sample of patients and health professionals to provide a fuller understanding of the impact of the study has had on consumer behaviour and attitudes towards active participation in health-enhancing activities and building improved relationships with health care providers.

The intervention group will receive the ‘Coaching Program’ over an 18-month period by the Practice Nurses in addition to their usual care from their GPs while the control group will only receive their usual GPs’ care. The ‘Coaching Program’ involves three face-to-face coaching sessions and five coaching calls in between. Both groups will be monitored at baseline, 12, and 18 months.