Dr. Mandana Rezaei-Ahli, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), has received a grant to study self-management and education for people diagnosed with diabetes. I have type 2 diabetes.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is funding Rezaeiahari's project, “Using Social Network Analysis to Understand Utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support.” The organization is providing $623,150 for the study, which began in September and will continue through April 2028.
This project aims to provide a foundation that can potentially strengthen self-managed education referral practices among education providers. Additionally, this study may help fill the knowledge gap about diabetes between healthcare providers and patients.
“Healthcare providers play an important role in influencing patient participation in diabetes education,” Rezaei-Ahli said. “It is essential to understand their practice patterns regarding diabetes management.
“Diabetes self-management education and support reduces mortality risk and significantly lowers A1C levels in adults with type 2 diabetes,” she said. “Despite proven effectiveness, access to education and support remains low, with only a small proportion of patients receiving education and support within a year of diabetes diagnosis.”
Previous research suggests that systemic inequities in health insurance are likely a contributing factor to the lack of diabetes management and education for many patients.
Diffusion of innovation (the way and speed at which information about products and developments spreads to specific groups) and social networks are therefore key cogs in this research. Rezaeiahari said the research team plans to use innovation and the prevalence of social networks to examine whether shared patient relationships among health care providers in Arkansas are associated with weaker use of diabetes education.
Rezaeiahari will also examine health insurance claims data from 2013 to 2020 for the study.
Overall, the findings of this study provide a basis for identifying providers who can promote diabetes self-management education and support among other type 2 diabetes providers.
Identifying system factors to improve diabetes care and treatment in Arkansas is important to Rezaiahari. “It is essential to identify barriers to access to diabetes education and understand differences in practice patterns among healthcare professionals who treat patients with type 2 diabetes,” said Rezaei-Ahli. “These insights may help design interventions aimed at expanding diabetes education in Arkansas.”
Dr. Mandana Rezaei-Ahari, assistant professor in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, conducts research aimed at improving diabetes management.