Behavioral Medicine Review: Strategic Management of Diabetes Risk

There is widespread public health concern about the upsurge in diabetes and its cardiometabolic comorbidities. Unfortunately, too many patients still do not receive best practices care. This review discusses some key contributing dynamics as well as considerations for progress toward the more comprehensive, strategic management of diabetes and its associated risks.

Behavioral Medecine Review: The Lifestyle Factor

Martinsen and Raglin provide a persuasive, evidence-based rationale for lifestyle approaches to the management of anxiety, depressive disorders, and their comorbidities. Yet, their review prompts discussion of the complexities navigating this terrain, including barriers to the identification and management of these common psychological problems in medical settings, the potential of these disorders to complicate health care, and challenges to the implementation of lifestyle interventions for depression and anxiety-related concerns.

The impact of lifestyle medicine continuing education on provider knowledge, attitudes, and counseling behaviors

BACKGROUND

There is a need for effective continuing medical education (CME) programs to increase healthcare providers' knowledge and skills in lifestyle medicine so that healthcare providers are better equipped to assist patients in adopting and maintaining healthier lifestyle behaviors.

AIMS

To evaluate the impact of five live face-to-face CME programs in lifestyle medicine on providers' barriers, knowledge, confidence, and professional counseling behaviors.

METHODS

200 participants completed researcher-generated surveys before and 90 days after each CME program. Paired t-tests measured significant changes for all outcome variables, and regression analyses assessed predictors of these changes.

RESULTS

Barriers that were targeted during the programs, i.e. lack of knowledge/skills, lack of materials, and perceived poor patient compliance showed highly significant improvement. Participants also reported significant changes in knowledge, confidence, and counseling behaviors in the areas of exercise and stress management. Some improvements occurred in areas that the CME programs did not target as much, i.e. nutrition, smoking, and weight management. The greatest predictor of change was the baseline level of scores. Those participants who could most benefit from change did show the largest improvements.

CONCLUSIONS

Live CME programs can be effective in educating healthcare providers about topics within the rapidly expanding field of lifestyle medicine.

Behavioral Medicine Review: Strategic Management of Diabetes Risk

There is widespread public health concern about the upsurge in diabetes and its cardiometabolic comorbidities. Unfortunately, too many patients still do not receive best practices care. This review discusses some key contributing dynamics as well as considerations for progress toward the more comprehensive, strategic management of diabetes and its associated risks.