Empathy-driven calls can improve diabetes control

December 11, 2024

Study design: This randomized clinical trial included 260 patients with uncontrolled diabetes at a federally qualified health center. Participants were divided into two groups: one received usual care, while the other received usual care plus empathy-oriented telephone calls from trained laypersons over six months.

Results: Patients receiving empathy-based calls showed a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels (-0.7%) compared with the control group (0.02%). The intervention was particularly effective for patients with mild depressive symptoms, who experienced an average HbA1c reduction of 1.1%.

Impact on clinical practice: The study suggests that layperson-delivered empathy calls can significantly improve glycemic control, offering a cost-effective and scalable approach to diabetes management, especially in resource-limited settings.

Source:

Kahlon MK, et al. JAMA Netw Open. Glycemic Control With Layperson-Delivered Telephone Calls vs Usual Care for Patients With Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39656459/