2164-PUB: Community Expansion of Peer Support for Diabetes Management in Shanghai

Peer support can be effective but dissemination is a challenge. In the context of the Shanghai Integration Model linking specialty/hospital with primary/community care, trained volunteer peer leaders (PLs) based in 9 Community Health Centers (CHCs) implemented peer support. Results included improved glycemic control and reduced BMI, diabetes distress and depression, each more pronounced among those with poorer baseline status. Benefit varied however according to CHCs’ ability to organize peer support. Dissemination needs to recruit additional agencies to support CHCs. Accordingly, a current phase includes additional government and citizen-led organizations in an additional 12 of Shanghai’s 240 communities. District-level and sub-district or community health staff work with each community’s CHC as well as citizen led Community Self Management Groups (> 5,000 in Shanghai) and government affiliated, local Residential Committees. Reports through regular monitoring and meetings with CHC and community staff during the first 8 months (May-December, 2019) indicate CHC and community staff work together in a complementary manner. CHC staff take responsibility for diabetes education (e.g., teaching 6 basic diabetes education modules) and designing activities. Community staff organize or facilitate activities, e.g., the 6 modules, cooking events, discussion groups, or recreational activities that provide a sense of solidarity among those with diabetes. District-level staff coordinate key responsibilities, integrate resources, organize large-scale activities, and train community level groups. Other community organizations include, e.g., an NGO in one district with extensive experience in community services. Across the 12 communities, an average of 6.33 PLs have been trained not including community groups that lead activities. Communities have held an average of 14.08 classes drawing from the 6 diabetes education modules.