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An evaluation of goal setting in the NHS England diabetes prevention programme.

Rhiannon E HawkesLeah WarrenElaine CameronDavid P French
Published in: Psychology & health (2021)
We know little about how goal setting is actually delivered in routine practice. The National Health Service Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS-DPP) is a behavioural intervention aiming to prevent progression to Type 2 diabetes in those at risk. It has been delivered across England by four commercial providers. This study aimed to establish whether goal setting in the NHS-DPP was delivered in line with the current evidence base. Design: Observational study and document review. One-hundred-and-eighteen NHS-DPP sessions with 419 people were observed at eight sites (two sites per provider). Main outcome measures: Multiple characteristics of goal setting were reliably coded from each providers' programme plans (intended goal setting) and from audio-recorded NHS-DPP sessions (actual goal setting). Results: Providers intended to deliver goal setting in 88.3% of sessions, though goal setting was delivered in only 52.5% of sessions. During delivery, the observed goals set across providers were generally specific (62.5%), set privately (53.1%), with goal difficulty rarely mentioned (3.1%). Conclusions: Goal setting in the NHS-DPP is being under-delivered, and not in line with the evidence base for promoting behavioural change. Goal setting in national behaviour change programmes should be optimised and training provided specifically for goal setting.
Keyphrases
  • type diabetes
  • patient safety
  • cardiovascular disease
  • randomized controlled trial
  • primary care
  • study protocol
  • quality improvement
  • glycemic control
  • insulin resistance
  • skeletal muscle
  • adipose tissue
  • weight loss