MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Maria L. Alva, DPhil Economist RTI International -  Research Triangle Institute MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: We have strong evidence from trials of structured lifestyle intervention programs (e.g. the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)) showing that half of new diabetes cases could be avoided if persons with prediabetes changed their lifestyle habits to lose a modest amount of body weight. Moreover, the DPP has been successfully translated into cost-effective community-based prevention interventions, but nationally, these evidence-based interventions (EBIs) are not being used sufficiently. To scale up the implementation of diabetes prevention EBIs, we need to address the challenges of getting organizations to adopt EBIs, and community members to enroll. Because cost is a primary barrier we wanted to understand what was the perceived value and demand for diabetes prevention programs in NC. And in particular, the role that community health workers and technology could play in program delivery, from the perspectives of both potential recipients (adults at high risk or diagnosed with prediabetes) and decision-makers in healthcare/public health delivery. (more…)