CARE-D-FOOT-Nav Pilot

Study Summary

This pilot study aims to examine the implementation of a patient navigator intervention called Comprehensive Assistance and Resources for Effective Diabetic Foot Navigation (CARE-D-Foot-Nav). Up to one-third of the 37 million people living with diabetes in the United States will experience a diabetic foot ulcer in their lifetime, and non-healing diabetic foot ulcers are the reason for almost all 100,000 diabetes-related amputations that occur annually in this country. Multidisciplinary diabetic foot care improves ulcer healing; however, people face challenges in navigating the healthcare system to access high-quality, multidisciplinary care, and amputations are on the rise. Participants enrolled in Care-D-Foot-Nav will be assigned to a diabetes educator and/or registered dietitian, and/or medical assistant who will serve as a dedicated DFU patient navigator. The navigators will conduct 30-60-minute encounters by phone or in person at least once a week during the 20-week program. The navigator will provide additional resources depending on the unique needs and circumstances of the participant. In addition, participants may receive transportation assistance and wound care supplies if needed. This pilot study aims to evaluate the program's fidelity and acceptability. The findings of this study may provide a new and cost-effective approach to managing this devastating disease.

Primary Outcome

Researchers will measure the program fidelity by the proportion of the program components addressed by the navigators. Navigators will address 16 components during the weekly encounters and 22 components at every fourth encounter. Researchers will record all encounters and will listen to the recordings of encounters and count which components were or were not discussed (binary outcome, yes/no), and measure consistency across navigators.

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• OTHER Comprehensive Assistance and Resources for Effective Diabetic Foot Navigation

Study Locations (4)