Introduction

On average, Americans with five or more chronic conditions spend 14 times more on health services than people with no chronic conditions¹. Programs focused on self-management and the subsequent reduction of hospitalizations and complications aim to reduce this economic burden². However, we’ve heard from our partners that the healthcare system is under preparing and thus under-utilizing a valuable member of the healthcare team – the family member. That is why we have embarked on a new initiative to fill this gap and effectively position family members to support, encourage, and facilitate chronic disease self-management.

Our first series of chronic conditions modules shines a spotlight on diabetes.

To ensure that we continue to deliver content that equips family members with the skills to help manage care at home, the development of this new content badge has been a months-long iterative process alongside front-line staff and experts in the field. We began by conducting a focus group with front-line nurses, case managers, and social workers to understand what skills and tools caregivers need to help manage their loved one’s chronic conditions. Upon analyzing the front-line staff’s responses, our team identified three main areas that families need more information in, including condition overviews, condition symptoms and complications, and family management. To gather evidence-based information for our modules, our content team expanded to include several multidisciplinary Certified Diabetes Educators. After synthesizing professional-level information into lessons with health-literacy principles in mind, the modules underwent a final review by a subject matter expert with more than a decade of experience as well as by the members of the initial project focus group.

We are pleased to announce that Trualta is officially expanding the content library to include a focus on chronic conditions. Our first set of modules, focusing on diabetes, is complete and includes:

Diabetes Overview

In this module, family members learn diabetes basics to build a strong caregiving foundation. Family members will learn about what diabetes is, what important numbers like blood sugar and A1C mean, as well as what the possible health consequences are and how to reduce the risk of these health problems.

Diabetes: Effects on Health and Wellbeing

In this module, family members learn about the effects that diabetes can have on their loved one’s health and well-being. Family members will learn about what emergency situations to be prepared for and how to handle these when they occur. Additionally, family members will familiarize themselves with diabetes distress and understand the importance of supporting their loved one’s mental health in addition to their physical health.

Diabetes: Family Management and Care Partnership 

In this module, family members learn how to create a care partnership founded in trust and respect with their loved one. Family members will also discover ten things they can do to support their loved one in managing their diabetes.

To learn more about Trualta’s modules on diabetes or other chronic conditions, contact Leda Rosenthal, Director of Growth, at Leda@Trualta.com or 1-800-214-5085 ext 1.

References

1. https://sbgg.org.br/informativos/29-06-17/1497877975_1_Chronic_Conditions.pdf
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5876976/#B10-ijerph-15-00431
3. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf