Using the American Association of Diabetes Educators Outcomes System to identify patient behavior change goals and diabetes educator responses

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to ascertain patients' self-identified and mutually identified or agreed on (working with diabetes educators) behavior change goals and examine the diabetes educators' response to these goals during the provision of diabetes self-management education. Methods: The American Association of Diabetes Educators Outcome System was integrated into Web-based, touch-screen, and telephonic systems within 8 sites within the Pittsburgh Regional Initiative for Diabetes Education network. Data from patients and their diabetes educators were obtained from the Diabetes Self-management Assessment Report Tool (D-SMART®) and Diabetes Educator Tool (D-ET®). Results: Nine hundred fifty-four individuals with diabetes (type 1 and type 2) using the D-SMART self-identified healthy eating (74%) and being active (54%) as the most common behavior change goals. From that sample, 527 patients identified goals that were mutually identified or agreed on with their diabetes educator: healthy eating (94%), being active (59%), monitoring (49%), taking medication (26%), reducing risks (19%), problem solving (18%), and healthy coping (18%). Conclusion: The most common behavior change goals identified by patients (self-identified or mutually identified with their diabetes educator) were healthy eating and being active. The behavior change goal least addressed by patients and educators alike was healthy coping. Mutually identified goals among educators and patients may improve targeted appropriate educational strategies to support patients in meeting their goals.