“InquisitHealth’s telephonic DPP has great retention and engagement. I believe this is primarily due to the peer-based approach” -Marti Macchi, MEd, MPH, Senior Director of Programs for the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors

 

InquisitHealth announced today that its Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) received Full Recognition status from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Full Recognition from the CDC is the highest level of clinical recognition available for the DPP. This is only awarded after the CDC thoroughly reviews a program’s performance over time, and validates that the program meets the high bar set by the CDC in terms of successful patient engagement and clinical efficacy.

InquisitHealth’s DPP program includes 1:1 coaching phone calls with a peer mentor, a free digital weight scale, and a mailed educational packet developed by the CDC. Participants are matched with mentors based on factors such as shared availability, language, ethnicity, geography, and lived experiences. The training of peer mentors was developed and validated with funding that InquisitHealth received from the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIH).

“InquisitHealth’s remotely delivered DPP program gives everyone access to the National Diabetes Prevention Program, especially important in an era of social distancing due to COVID.” says Ashwin Patel, MD PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of InquisitHealth. “You also only need a phone to participate.”

In 2018, InquisitHealth received funding from the CDC through the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) to deliver the DPP to regions of Alaska that did not have a local, in-person Diabetes Prevention Program.

The phone-based mentoring program has extended availability from just 7 in-person DPP programs in 5 cities to a state-wide program available to each and every Alaska resident with prediabetes.

“We’re excited to share the news of InquisitHealth’s Full Recognition from the CDC with our partners across the state,” said Ashley Minaei, MPH, CPH of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. “We’re now increasing program enrollment so that many more Alaskans living with pre-diabetes can benefit.”

InquisitHealth’s model focuses on addressing barriers related to the social determinants of health (SDoH), such as food insecurity and health literacy, while also activating healthy lifestyle changes related to eating healthier and increasing physical activity.

“InquisitHealth’s telephonic DPP has great retention and engagement. I believe this is primarily due to the peer-based approach,” shares Marti Macchi, MEd, MPH, Senior Director of Programs for the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD). “When participants are matched with mentors who share similar experiences and backgrounds, they build a strong relationship, and they want to continue engaging in the program. The outcomes then speak for themselves.”

InquisitHealth helps support patients in their own homes, including those that may have many additional challenges.

Among Alaskans who have participated in the program:

  • 83% had at least 1 other chronic health condition (in addition to prediabetes)
  • 36% had at least one disability
  • 33% had at least one barrier related to a social determinant of health

In order to receive CDC Full Recognition, the highest level of recognition, InquisitHealth’s DPP had to meet or surpass six engagement and clinical measures, including high engagement during the entire year-long program, a high percentage of validated weight measurements over time, and average weight loss of 5+ percent.

 

About InquisitHealth

InquisitHealth utilizes a remote workforce of community health workers with lived experience, i.e., peer mentors, to deliver improvements in patient outcomes by addressing the underlying social determinants of health while activating healthy behavior changes. Learn more at inquisithealth.com.

About the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors

Since 1988, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and its more than 7,000 members have worked to strengthen state-based leadership and expertise for chronic disease prevention and control in all states, territories, and nationally. Learn more at chronicdisease.org.

About the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Section of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

The State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Section of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion provides programs to support the work of partners and stakeholders statewide to prevent chronic disease and promote health. Follow health updates at http://www.twitter.com/Alaska_DHSS