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Action Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, 378-406 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1476750307083722

Partners in Diabetes

Action research in a primary care setting

Tai J. Mendenhall

University of Minnesota, USA, mend0009{at}umn.edu

William J. Doherty

University of Minnesota, USA

Diabetes is a growing problem that threatens both individual health and health care systems throughout the industrialized world. This study analyzes the process and evolution of a collaborative project dealing with diabetes and employing action research methodology and the Citizen Health Care model. Partners in Diabetes (PID) was created through a democratic process among patients, families and providers in a primary care setting in the United States. Fourteen PID `support partners' were nominated by their physicians to receive training and then reach out to other patients and families across a variety of contexts (e.g. home, clinic, telephone). We conducted qualitative analyses of detailed meeting process-notes spanning more than three years, and key-informant interviews with providers, patients and family members. We identified key developmental themes, including how providers and patients learned to overcome traditional hierarchy, how PID was designed and implemented, what challenges were encountered and what mistakes were made. Lessons for extending similar projects are highlighted.

Key Words: chronic illness • Citizen Health Care • community-based participatory research • diabetes • Partners in Diabetes

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