Feasibility and impact of a patient support group care model on diabetes and hypertension care in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya: a quasi-experimental study.
Sanya RE., Karugu CH., Iddi S., Kibe PM., Mburu L., Mbau L., Kibe V., Mahone S., Levitt NS., Klipstein-Grobusch K., Asiki G.
BACKGROUND: A support group care model including self-financing is a promising strategy to improve care for patients with diabetes or hypertension in resource-constrained settings. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the uptake, feasibility, and impact of a self-financing patient support group care model on cardiometabolic parameters among adult patients with uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. METHODS: A two-group prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted. The outcomes were changes in mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index, and waist-hip ratio in control versus intervention communities, assessed 6 months after intervention implementation. RESULTS: At baseline, 118 patients with diabetes (intervention, 60; control, 58) and 176 with hypertension (intervention, 87; control, 89) were enrolled. At endline, 81 patients with diabetes and 137 with hypertension were surveyed. In the intervention arm, HbA1c decreased from 10.8% to 9.0% (mean difference [95% CI]: -1.7 [-2.4, -0.9] p