Evaluation of an Integrated Intervention to Address Clinical Care and Social Needs Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background The Providence Diabetes Collective Impact Initiative (DCII) was designed to address the clinical challenges of type 2 diabetes and the social determinants of health (SDoH) challenges that exacerbate disease impact. Objective We assessed the impact of the DCII, a multifaceted intervention approach to diabetes treatment that employed both clinical and SDoH strategies, on access to medical and social services. Design The evaluation employed a cohort design and used an adjusted difference-in-difference model to compare treatment and control groups. Participants Our study population consisted of 1220 people (740 treatment, 480 control), aged 18–65 years old with a pre-existing type 2 diabetes diagnosis who visited one of the seven Providence clinics (three treatment and four control) in the tri-county area of Portland, Oregon, between August 2019 and November 2020. Interventions The DCII threaded together clinical approaches such as outreach, standardized protocols, and diabetes self-management education and SDoH strategies including social needs screening, referral to a community resource desk, and social needs support (e.g., transportation) to create a comprehensive, multi-sector intervention. Main Measures Outcome measures included SDoH screens, diabetes education participation, HbA1c, blood pressure, and virtual and in-person primary care utilization, as well as inpatient and emergency department hospitalization. Key Results Compared to patients at the control clinics, patients at DCII clinics saw an increase in diabetes education (15.5%, p