Behavioral Economics and Self-Determination Theory to Change Diabetes Risk (BEST Change)

Sponsor
University of Michigan (Other)
Overall Status
Enrolling by invitation
CT.gov ID
NCT04902326
Collaborator
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (NIH)
380
1
4
29.5
12.9

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Patients with prediabetes can significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by participating in a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) or using metformin, but very few patients with prediabetes engage in these strategies. This randomized controlled trial will compare, among adults with prediabetes, the effectiveness of financial incentives, tailored messages based on self-determination theory (SDT) principles, and the combination of financial incentives plus tailored messages based on SDT principles in decreasing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and weight and in increasing participation in a DPP or use of metformin. Our main hypotheses are that the mean decrease in HbA1c will be greater in the arm that receives a combination of financial incentives plus tailored messages than in the arm that receives generic health education messages, and that the mean decrease in HbA1c will be greater in the arm that receives a combination of financial incentives plus tailored messages than in the arm that receives financial incentives alone and the arm that receives tailored messages alone. The study will also identify moderators and mediators of the effectiveness of the interventions and evaluate facilitators of and barriers to scalability, acceptability, and sustainability of the different interventions.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Behavioral: Automated educational text messages
  • Behavioral: Autonomy-supportive automated educational text messages
  • Behavioral: Financial incentives
  • Behavioral: Tailored text messages
N/A

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
380 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description:
All investigators, data analysts, and the project manager will be blinded to arm assignment until primary outcome data are collected
Primary Purpose:
Prevention
Official Title:
Integrating Behavioral Economics and Self-Determination Theory to Advance Patient Engagement in Diabetes Prevention
Actual Study Start Date :
Sep 16, 2021
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Mar 1, 2024
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Mar 1, 2024

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Active Comparator: Enhanced Usual Care (EUC)

Receives one intervention: automated educational text messages

Behavioral: Automated educational text messages
During the first two weeks, participants receive a series of educational messages delivered via text message. These messages welcome participants to the study, set expectations for the next 12 months, and establish a general level of knowledge among all participants on prediabetes, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), and metformin. For the next 11.5 months, participants receive three automated text messages per week that provide evidence-based educational content about prediabetes and tips on prevention. Additionally, participants receive monthly messages reminding them about their health insurance plan's coverage of the DPP at no cost and coverage of metformin as a low co-pay medication, and monthly messages providing feedback on their participation in the DPP and use of metformin in the previous calendar month. Participants' PCPs receive quarterly chart updates about participation in the DPP and use of metformin, and A1c results at enrollment and 6 and 12 months.

Experimental: Financial Incentives

Receives two interventions: automated educational text messages and financial incentives.

Behavioral: Automated educational text messages
During the first two weeks, participants receive a series of educational messages delivered via text message. These messages welcome participants to the study, set expectations for the next 12 months, and establish a general level of knowledge among all participants on prediabetes, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), and metformin. For the next 11.5 months, participants receive three automated text messages per week that provide evidence-based educational content about prediabetes and tips on prevention. Additionally, participants receive monthly messages reminding them about their health insurance plan's coverage of the DPP at no cost and coverage of metformin as a low co-pay medication, and monthly messages providing feedback on their participation in the DPP and use of metformin in the previous calendar month. Participants' PCPs receive quarterly chart updates about participation in the DPP and use of metformin, and A1c results at enrollment and 6 and 12 months.

Behavioral: Financial incentives
Participants in this arm have the opportunity to earn a financial incentive ranging from $50 to $250 per month for taking an evidence-based action to prevent T2DM (i.e., engagement in a DPP or fill of a metformin prescription) in the previous month.

Experimental: Tailored Messages

Receives two interventions: autonomy-supportive automated educational text messages and tailored text messages.

Behavioral: Autonomy-supportive automated educational text messages
Participants receive the same text messages as in the automated educational text message intervention, but the thrice weekly messages have been modified, where applicable, to support the participant's autonomy, in accordance with principles of Self-Determination Theory. Participants' PCPs receive quarterly chart updates about participation in the DPP and use of metformin, and A1c results at enrollment and 6 and 12 months.

Behavioral: Tailored text messages
Participants receive twice-weekly tailored text messages that link evidence-based actions to prevent T2DM to the participant's self-identified top values, roles, and strengths. Text messages are also tailored, when possible, to participants' self-reported importance of taking action to try to prevent T2DM (i.e., participating in the DPP or taking metformin), confidence in being able to take such preventive action, and past preventive actions taken.

Experimental: Combo Arm-Financial Incentives Plus Tailored Messages Arm

Receives three interventions: autonomy-supportive automated educational text messages, tailored text messages, and financial incentives.

Behavioral: Autonomy-supportive automated educational text messages
Participants receive the same text messages as in the automated educational text message intervention, but the thrice weekly messages have been modified, where applicable, to support the participant's autonomy, in accordance with principles of Self-Determination Theory. Participants' PCPs receive quarterly chart updates about participation in the DPP and use of metformin, and A1c results at enrollment and 6 and 12 months.

Behavioral: Financial incentives
Participants in this arm have the opportunity to earn a financial incentive ranging from $50 to $250 per month for taking an evidence-based action to prevent T2DM (i.e., engagement in a DPP or fill of a metformin prescription) in the previous month.

Behavioral: Tailored text messages
Participants receive twice-weekly tailored text messages that link evidence-based actions to prevent T2DM to the participant's self-identified top values, roles, and strengths. Text messages are also tailored, when possible, to participants' self-reported importance of taking action to try to prevent T2DM (i.e., participating in the DPP or taking metformin), confidence in being able to take such preventive action, and past preventive actions taken.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Change in hemoglobin A1C from baseline to 6 months [baseline and 6 months]

    Hemoglobin A1C will be tested at clinical lab using blood sample from venipuncture.

  2. Change in hemoglobin A1C from baseline to 12 months [baseline and12 months]

    Hemoglobin A1C will be tested at clinical lab using blood sample from venipuncture.

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Change in weight from baseline to 6 months [baseline and 6 months]

    Participants will measure their body weight using a scale in their home.

  2. Change in weight from baseline to 12 months [baseline and 12 months]

    Participants will measure their body weight using a scale in their home.

  3. Engagement in DPP [up to 12 months]

    Health insurance claims will be used to collect this data.

  4. Proportion of days covered by Metformin [up to 12 months]

    Prescription plan claims will be used to collect this data.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years and Older
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Primary Care Provider part of Michigan Medicine

  • Body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher (23 or higher if of Asian descent)

  • Primary health insurance is U-M Premier Care

  • Recent Hgb (hemoglobin) A1c 5.7 - 6.4% (inclusive)

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Participated in pretesting of intervention materials

  • Diagnosis of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

  • Serious mental health conditions (described by protocol)

  • End stage renal disease (described by protocol)

  • Alcohol dependence and opioid dependence (described by protocol)

  • Unable to send and receive several text messages weekly

  • No regular access to a smart phone or tablet with data capabilities or Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) connection at home

  • Currently taking metformin

  • Unable to take metformin due to contraindications or side effects

  • Participated in a Diabetes Prevention Program covered by University of Michigan Premier Care insurance

  • Currently enrolled in an interventional research study that is examining how a diet, program, or drug might: promote physical exercise, healthy eating habits, or weight loss; lower blood pressure; or lower blood sugar

  • Not planning to live in local area over the next year

  • Pregnant or planning a pregnancy in the next year

  • Received treatment for an eating disorder (e.g. anorexia or bulimia), not including binge-eating disorder, in last 12 months

  • Intensive cancer treatment such as bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, radiation, or cancer related surgery (not including hormonal chemotherapy like Tamoxifen) in last six months or near future

  • Organ transplant in last six months

  • Bariatric/ gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, or gastric balloon procedure in last six months

  • Stroke, heart attack, heart surgery, or hospitalization for congestive heart failure in the past three months

  • Other serious health issues or personal concerns that could prevent participant from completing study

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan United States 48109

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • University of Michigan
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Kullgren, MD, University of Michigan

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
Jeffrey T. Kullgren, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Assistant Professor of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT04902326
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • HUM00188543
  • 1R18DK122418-01
First Posted:
May 26, 2021
Last Update Posted:
Jun 30, 2022
Last Verified:
Jun 1, 2022
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
Yes
Plan to Share IPD:
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Keywords provided by Jeffrey T. Kullgren, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Assistant Professor of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Jun 30, 2022