Communication: The Key to Unlocking Obstacles to Diabetes Care

• Adherence Challenges in Type 2 Diabetes
• Impact of Communication on Adherence: Building a Partnership with your Patients
• The Standardized Patient: A Valuable Learning Resource and Workshop Overview

• Case-Based Interactions with Standardized Patients
• Small Group Break-out

• Faculty and Participants Discussion: Highlights and Feedback
• Practice-based Communication Strategies: Resources, Tools, and Take-Away Pearls
• Diabetes Tool Box

Use of Standardized Patients in CME
The use of simulated clinical scenarios is rapidly expanding to meet the educational needs of healthcare professionals. Use of Standardized Patients is a step in the direction of practical and effective continuing medical education.

Standardized Patients are persons trained to portray patient scenarios. They are an effective tool for instruction in optimal patient–provider communication. Standardized Patients provide a supportive environment conducive for

• learning,
• practice,
• assessment, and
• feedback to close the gap between baseline and optimal practice.

• Patients who are reluctant, frightened, depressed or resistant to care
• Culturally diverse minorities
• Adolescent patients
• Patients with varying socioeconomic barriers

1. advance the skills and competencies of healthcare professionals
2. improve practice performance of healthcare professionals by observing them in clinical scenarios and providing instant feedback to improve their communication skills
3. reinforce salient features of patient–provider/practice communication strategies that encourage patients to adopt effective self-management behaviors and achieve treatment goals

• The evidence-based presentations are designed to focus attention on the need to establish a more effective patient–provider communication by promoting effective self–management behaviors and treatment adherence in order to achieve better health outcomes.
• These presentations will be followed by a practical demonstration of a simulated interaction between the faculty and a standardized patient. This demonstration will provide insight into how providers should practice with the standardized patients to achieve the best educational outcomes from the session.

In order to comprehensively and systematically assess the impact of this CME program, a mixed-methods evaluation (quantitative and qualitative) design has been planned. The penultimate goal is to submit the aggregate findings from this research to a peer-reviewed clinical journal from which all stakeholders can learn.

The key instrument you will be asked to complete, as a registered participant, is the Learner Self-Assessment, which you will complete online post your registration to the program, as well as post participating in the program itself. This LSA will provide you an opportunity to self-reflect upon your current clinical practices, skills, approaches, and challenges with respect to treating and managing patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as your learnings from the program.

Furthermore, all registered program participants will be given an opportunity to voluntarily enroll themselves and their clinical practice into an IRB approved research initiative. Over a four month period, you will be asked to complete two interviews (by phone) and two short surveys (by fax, email or mail). Your patients with type 2 diabetes can also participate in independent interviews related to their issues and challenges. This data can provide you with feedback on your practice, and your improvements based upon the program. In addition, you (and your patients) will receive financial compensation for this IRB approved evaluation. The time commitment is minimal, and will be coordinated by our staff at a convenient time.

All data that will be collected in confidential manner (e.g. coded), and all efforts to separate data from any personal identifying information is respected. In order to further mitigate against perception of bias, as well as to ensure confidentiality of the evaluation, the data will be independently designed, collected, and analyzed by AXDEV Group, and only the aggregate findings will be made public and or published.