P-197: Use of community partners to co-design and co-implement a novel occupational therapy randomized clinical trial for youth with diabetes living in the rural United States
L Eberly, J Shin, A Thompson, S Newpher, A Miller, E Knezevich, B Feiten, V Salinas, A Patel, E Pyatak, V JewellAbstract
Introduction
Meeting health needs of rural youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) requires tailored academic–community partnerships to co-design accessible, innovative interventions that address limited specialty care, management burden, and geographic isolation.
Objectives
The aim of this community-engaged research project was to describe how a group of committed T1D stakeholders provided structured guidance and consultation on a novel telehealth diabetes lifestyle management intervention randomized controlled trial (RCT), from conceptualization, implementation, and dissemination.
Methods
Implemented a four-strategy stakeholder engagement plan that included: (a) assessment of personal, professional, and institutional strengths; (b) identification and activation of existing and new academic–community partnerships; (c) reframing rural T1D health needs; and (d) intentional cultivation of long-term community partnerships to support trial implementation.
Results
An interprofessional team of researchers, healthcare providers, and patients/caregivers developed the grant proposal, secured funding, recruited participants, delivered the intervention, evaluated outcomes, and disseminated findings. Each phase incorporated participation from at least one researcher and one community partner. A Community Steering Committee met monthly to provide critical guidance across all stages of the trial. The principal investigator, research mentor, interventionist, student research assistant, and Community Steering Committee members all identified as T1D stakeholders. The study achieved 100% retention of community partners, while participant retention and intervention session attendance exceeded 90%.
Conclusions
Developing a stakeholder engagement plan prior to initiating a clinical trial enhances alignment of study procedures with community priorities, strengthens ethical research practices, facilitates participant recruitment, and supports sustained engagement and high retention throughout intervention delivery.