# Expanding the Diabetes Homelessness Medication Support (D-Homes) program to Spanish speaking Hispanics

> **NIH NIH R03** · HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2022 · $97,176

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Homeless people in the US face disproportionate risk for early death in part due to poorly controlled chronic
diseases including diabetes. 1.5 million unique US adults access homeless shelters annually. People
experiencing diabetes and homelessness develop complications 10 years earlier and die prematurely
compared to their housed counterparts. This project works to achieve health equity for these people.
Substantial evidence links medication adherence as a leading modifiable health behavior driving poor
diabetes outcomes in low-income and homeless populations. Behavioral support for improved medication
adherence among people experiencing diabetes and homelessness is the focus of our team’s ongoing work
(K23DK118117). We’ve used qualitative data and community engaged approaches to develop a tailored
behavioral intervention (the Diabetes Homeless Medication Support program [D-Homes]); pilot testing of this
new intervention is ongoing. D-Homes offers 10 coaching sessions over 12 weeks targeting glycemic control
via improved medication adherence. Coaching includes diabetes education and structured goal setting
targeting medication adherence and psychological wellness. To date English fluency has been an enrollment
criterion due to limited resources in the existing K23 award. Yet the Hispanic community has disproportionately
higher rates of both homelessness and diabetes. This R-03 award will expand the D-Homes intervention to
include Spanish speakers in two aims: (1) Adapt D-Homes protocols and translated treatment materials based
on feedback from people with diabetes and homelessness who speak Spanish and are Hispanic (DH-SH). We
will conduct 8-10 interviews to review materials, planned recruitment and retention strategies, and study
logistics. (2) Assess feasibility and acceptability of the adapted D-Homes for DH-SH. We will recruit 12 DH-SH
into a single-arm trial to assess acceptability and feasibility of (i) recruitment and retention; (ii) coaching content
and treatment materials; (iii) outcome assessments. Data will include systematic tracking of recruitment and
retention efforts, staff feedback, program satisfaction and post-treatment qualitative interviews. We
hypothesize unique recruitment/retention needs and unique facilitators/barriers to medication adherence
among DH-SH compared to English-speaking participants. Data will define solutions for use in future work.
This study is significant because findings will enable a future, fully powered clinical trial of D-Homes that will
enroll both English and Spanish speakers. Our team’s experience provides a robust foundation for this work:
(1) Our bilingual/bicultural research staff supports our ongoing NIDDK-funded trial with Hispanic participants
with type 2 diabetes (R01 DK113999); (2) The PI’s Mexican heritage, Spanish language skills, and leadership
role at the local Health Care for the Homeless program; (3) Our team’s successful recruitment and retention of
diverse ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10510094
- **Project number:** 1R03DK133553-01
- **Recipient organization:** HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Katherine Diaz Vickery
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $97,176
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-05 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10510094

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10510094, Expanding the Diabetes Homelessness Medication Support (D-Homes) program to Spanish speaking Hispanics (1R03DK133553-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-31 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10510094. Licensed CC0.

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