Peer support for patients with type 2 diabetes in rural communities of China: protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The prevalence of diabetes has been growing rapidly in developing countries. This causes devastating economic burdens and increases demands on the health care system. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find a cost-effective and multi-faceted approach for diabetes care. Peer support models provide a potentially low-cost, flexible means which complements the current existing health care services. In this way, trained peer leaders can become qualified extensions to a formal healthcare system, capable of assisting education delivery and bolstering the efforts of professional staff. As such, creating a cultural specific peer support program and determining whether it is acceptable and cost-effective in rural communities of China is crucial. This study aims to implement and

SUBMITTER: Xie B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4132925 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature