Peer support in Shanghai’s Commitment to diabetes and chronic disease self-management: program development, program expansion, and policy

Identifying organizational settings for sustainable, scalable implementation of peer support (PS) is a challenge. Development, initial evaluation, and community expansion of PS for populations with diabetes staged in the context of the Shanghai Integration Model integrating primary and specialty care for diabetes. Development Phase with 9 Community Health Centers (CHCs) leading to Community Expansion Phase with additional 12 communities. Development Phase peer leaders (PLs) co-led meetings on diabetes management, led neighborhood activities, and followed up with individuals and families. Among 1,284 participants, changes in HbA1c, other clinical markers, and diabetes distress were significant (ps from 0.001 to 0.041), pronounced among those with elevated levels, for example, HbA1c reduction from 9.09% to 8.50% among those >/=8% at baseline (p < 0.001). Ratings of Implementation were associated with reduced HbA1c and diabetes distress and increased neighborhood support. In particular, linking with community resources and utilization of neighborhood Residential Committees were associated with improved HbA1c, indicating the value of PS programs including community resources. Thus, the Community Expansion Phase includes district- and community-level health staff, Community Self Management Groups, and Residential Committees along with CHCs in 12 communities, all of which have implemented activities during the first 6 months. PS programs are feasible and appear to add value among populations with diabetes in community settings such as Shanghai. Recognition by the Shanghai government has included PS as a key strategy for achieving self-management of chronic disease in its 2030 health goals.