ABSTRACT
Objective: To adapt Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed (DESMOND) structured education programmes for virtual delivery during covid-19. Methods: Face-to- face structured education programmes stopped in March 2020 due to covid-19. A multi-disciplinary stakeholder group adapted the existing evidence-based DESMOND curriculums and resources to support a new model of virtual delivery, while remaining congruent to the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings. Version 1 was released in May 2020. Educator training was provided to increase confidence in delivering virtually. An iterative process of stakeholder feedback, and review of resources led to two updated versions of the adapted programmes being released;version 3 was made available in October 2021. New Educators are now trained virtually. In August 2021 the first Educator completed their pathway of training, mentorship and quality assessment virtually. Results: Between May 2020 and August 2021, 529 attendees rated their DESMOND programme 8.8/10 for how much they felt part of the group and able to engage with others and 94% set a goal during their programme. 95% of attendees rated their overall experience as 4 or 5 stars with 97% recommending the programme to friends and family. Feedback from Educators indicated low drop out rates between sessions and virtual delivery had increased the opportunity for evening and weekend sessions enabling more people to attend. Educators found the virtual resources easy to use. Conclusions: The adaptation of face-to- face to virtual delivery is acceptable to participants and Educators. Virtual delivery should continue to be included as an option in the future.
ABSTRACT
Over time, various guidelines have emphasised the importance of physical activity and exercise training in the management of type 2 diabetes, chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of physical activity in people with type 2 diabetes and COVID-19. Most research to date indicates that people with type 2 diabetes who engage in both aerobic and resistance exercise see the greatest improvements in insulin sensitivity. Physical activity is now also known to be effective at reducing hospitalisation rates of respiratory viral diseases, such as COVID-19, due to the beneficial impacts of exercise on the immune system. Preliminary result indicates that home-based exercise may be an essential component in future physical activity recommendations given the current COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing. This home-based physical exercise can be easily regulated and monitored using step counters and activity trackers, enabling individuals to manage health issues that benefit from physical exercise.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To understand how patients find the experience of attending virtual group education during the covid-19 pandemic. Method: Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed (DESMOND) programmes for people with or at risk of type 2 diabetes were adapted for virtual delivery in late May 2020, so UK and Ireland DESMOND providers could implement virtual groups during covid-19. 14 DESMOND providers distributed online surveys at the end of each group;either via chat functions or follow-up emails. A range of questions were included rating how participants had found the experience before and during attendance. The responses were all entered anonymously and automatically analysed by the online survey software. Results: To date 147 responses have been received with an average overall experience rating of 4.7 out of five was given. 97% reported finding it easy to log into their virtual group. 92% were happy to attend virtually rather than waiting to attend in-person. 93% felt able to express how they were feeling about their type 2 diabetes. 93% were able to keep up with the information provided. 90% reported feeling part of a group. 94% reported making a plan to make a lifestyle change with 68% focusing on weight loss/maintenance and 19% on HbA1c. 97% would recommend attending. Conclusion: Although implementation is in early stages these initial findings suggest those who attend a virtual DESMOND group find the overall experience positive. It is envisaged that virtual means of group delivery will now become part of diabetes education provision permanently.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Health and key workers have elevated odds of developing severe COVID-19; it is not known, however, if this is exacerbated in those with irregular work patterns. We aimed to investigate the odds of developing severe COVID-19 in health and shift workers. METHODS: We included UK Biobank participants in employment or self-employed at baseline (2006-2010) and with linked COVID-19 data to 31st August 2020. Participants were grouped as neither a health worker nor shift worker (reference category) at baseline, health worker only, shift worker only, or both, and associations with severe COVID-19 investigated in logistic regressions. RESULTS: Of 235,685 participants (81·5% neither health nor shift worker, 1·4% health worker only, 16·9% shift worker only, and 0·3% both), there were 580 (0·25%) cases of severe COVID-19. The odds of severe COVID-19 was higher in health workers (adjusted odds ratio: 2·32 [95% CI: 1·33, 4·05]; shift workers (2·06 [1·72, 2·47]); and in health workers who worked shifts (7·56 [3·86, 14·79]). Being both a health worker and a shift worker had a possible greater impact on the odds of severe COVID-19 in South Asian and Black and African Caribbean ethnicities compared to White individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Both health and shift work (measured at baseline, 2006-2010) were independently associated with over twice the odds of severe COVID-19 in 2020; the odds were over seven times higher in health workers who work shifts. Vaccinations, therapeutic and preventative options should take into consideration not only health and key worker status but also shift worker status.