Barriers to participation and lifestyle change among lower versus higher income participants in the National Diabetes Prevention Program: lifestyle coach perspectives

Lay Summary The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) has less successfully reached and changed the lifestyles of lower income (versus higher income) adults in the USA who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes. In a nationwide online survey, we asked Lifestyle Coaches who deliver the NDPP to identify up to 37 potential barriers to participation and success that they had observed among their participants. We then compared the number, type, and rankings of the most significant barriers to participation and success in the NDPP from the perspective of Lifestyle Coaches estimating the majority of their participants had lower versus higher incomes. Lifestyle Coaches delivering the NDPP to lower income participants reported an average of two additional barriers to participation and success than those delivering the program to higher income participants. The barriers ranked among the most significant to NDPP participation and lifestyle change were generally similar among Lifestyle Coaches working with lower versus higher income participants. Top-ranked barriers included physical/emotional symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression) as well as barriers previously reported in studies focused on NDPP participants. It is critical that barriers be carefully evaluated and addressed to improve the nationwide impact of the NDPP. Individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged groups have lesser participation and success in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). Barriers to NDPP participation and lifestyle change were examined from the perspective of Lifestyle Coaches serving lower versus higher income participants. Lifestyle Coaches (n = 211) who serve lower income (n = 82) or higher income (n = 129) participants reported on observed barriers to NDPP participation and lifestyle change and ranked the three most significant barriers to (a) NDPP participation and (b) lifestyle change. Group differences in number/type of barriers were examined using t-tests and chi-square analyses, and ranking differences were examined using multilevel cumulative logit models. Lifestyle Coaches of lower income (versus higher income) participants reported two additional barriers on average. Ranked barriers to participation were similar between groups, and notably included physical/emotional barriers. However, for lifestyle change, those serving lower income groups were more likely to rank lack of access to healthy grocery stores, but less likely to rank low motivation and lack of family support. Lifestyle Coaches of lower income participants were less likely to rank long wait period prior to enrollment as the most significant barrier to participation, and to rank lack of time off from work as the most significant barrier to lifestyle change. Despite more barriers observed among lower versus higher income participants, overlap in the most significant barriers highlights the potential utility of widely addressing common barriers among NDPP participants. In particular, physical and emotional barriers have been overlooked, yet deserve greater attention in future research and practice.