National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference 2024

Bales, M, McFall, D, Lane, E, Bryan, C, Matthews, R, Sherrill, W, and Stancil, M.
Health Extension for Diabetes (HED) is a 16-week community diabetes self-management
support program developed by Clemson University. Extension Agents facilitate the program in
partnership with clinicians and traditional delivery was adapted to online delivery during
COVID-19. Results from traditionally delivered HED and online HED were compared to
determine if the delivery method with adaptations were equally effective in changing
knowledge, behaviors, self-confidence, and biometrics.

Methods:
Adaptations for online delivery of HED were made for recruitment, enrollment, and program
delivery. Questions were also added to the enrollment surveys to determine proficiency in use
of technology and technology practice sessions were offered as needed.

Results:
In-person HED programs reached a greater number of black/African American participants
while online HED programs reached a greater number of white participants. Online HED
participants had higher levels of education and income. Changes in scores for knowledge
transfer, behavior changes, and biometrics were similar in participants from online programs
compared to in-person programs. Online participants had a greater increase in self-confidence
for diabetes self-management than in-person participants.

Conclusions:
Despite differences in demographics, implementation of online versus in-person HED results in
similar programmatic outcomes pre- to post-participation. Online participants may have a
greater change in confidence for diabetes self-management because income and education may
result in fewer barriers to self-management. A combination of online and in-person HED
program delivery can be used to increase the program reach to a greater number of individuals
with diabetes, thereby increasing access to diabetes self-management education and support
programs.