The article discussed in this essay focuses on a diabetes prevention program. The study by Cha et al. (2017) determines effective strategies to help individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes avoid the associated complications. The method used is a prospective randomized clinical trial (RCT) that involved 420 respondents with a high chance of the disease, randomly distributed between the control and the experimental groups. The latter were subject to an intensive lifestyle modification (LSM) for 24 weeks (Cha et al., 2017). The strengths of this study include its reliability and practicality, as RCTs are generally viewed as an evidence-based method for finding out more about a particular phenomenon. According to Cha et al. (2017), an intensive LSM program can be implemented for individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes with the use of different educational materials. The article supports other researchers’ findings regarding the positive impact of certain strategies on diabetes prevention (Moin et al., 2018). Finally, the study provides a practical and low-cost solution to an existing health care problem, which is another significant benefit. At the same time, a major weakness of the study is the limited duration of the trial, which does not allow the scientists to estimate the life-long effects of the program on patients’ health. Moreover, Cha et al. (2017) note that the design does not consider the need for a metformin prescription, which can complicate the procedure. Follow-up research that can be recommended should focus on exploring the long-term effects of intensive lifestyle modification on patients’ health. Overall, I think that this study can benefit society by providing a practical solution to reducing diabetes rates in the population, supported by evidence.
References
Cha, S. A., Lim, S. Y., Kim, K. R., Lee, E. Y., Kang, B., Choi, Y. H., Yoon, K. H., Ahn, Y. B., Lee, J. H., & Ko, S. H. (2017). Community-based randomized controlled trial of diabetes prevention study for high-risk individuals of type 2 diabetes: lifestyle intervention using web-based system. BMC Public Health, 17(1), 1-9.
Moin, T., Damschroder, L. J., AuYoung, M., Maciejewski, M. L., Havens, K., Ertl, K., Vasti, E., Weinreb, J. E., Steinle, N. I., Billington, C. J., Hughes, M., Makki, F., Youles. B., Holleman, R. G., Kim, M., Kinsinger, L. S., & Richardson, C. R. (2018). Results from a trial of an online diabetes prevention program intervention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 55(5), 583-591.
