The Impact of a Digital Health Coaching Program on a Rural Population

Compared to urban areas, the prevalence of diabetes is higher in rural areas. The effects of diabetes are compounded by barriers endemic to rural populations, such as limited access to care and health education. A digital health coaching (DHC) program may address these barriers. This retrospective analysis explored how a DHC program influenced outcomes among patients with T2DM who live in a rural area. Individuals with T2DM were enrolled in a 6-month condition-specific DHC program via an employer/payor program or physician. A comparative analysis assessed changes in physical, mental, and emotional health metrics among those living in a rural area, defined as areas located outside of a U.S. Census Bureau Urbanized Area (an urban area of 50,000 or more people). Paired t-tests were used to determine differences between the overall average baseline and month 6 scores. From January 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022, 584 rural participants were enrolled in the DHC program. Most participants were female (75%) with an average age of 55. At 6 months, there were significant improvements in diabetes distress scores (2.6 to 2.0, P=0.0007) and HbA1c (8.3 to 7.2, P=0.0071). Participants in the program showed improved outcomes for diabetes-related quality of life measures at 6 months. This analysis suggests that implementing a DHC program that addresses modifiable behaviors and barriers can help reduce the burden of diabetes in a rural population. Disclosure J.Moore: None. S.Rutland: None. V.T.Tran: None. B.Burton: None.