# Optimizing an Adaptive Self-care Support Intervention for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Leveraging their Social Relationships

> **NIH NIH K23** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $186,616

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Successful management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) requires daily self-care behaviors which largely occur within
the context of patients’ social relationships. Chronic diseases, like T2D, have high levels of heterogeneity in
response to self-care support interventions, suggesting a sequential, individualized approach may maximize
benefits for the largest proportion of patients. Adaptive interventions mirror clinical care by applying a series of
“if-then” decision rules that dictate which intervention components are delivered over time, according to how
individuals respond. They are especially well suited to the management of chronic conditions. To date, all
adaptive interventions for chronic disease management are delivered individually; none have involved social
support. Adaptive interventions leveraging social relationships could reduce heterogeneity in response to self-
care support interventions and better meet the needs of adults with T2D. During this K23 award, the principal
investigator (PI) will address these gaps in the extant literature while participating in a mentored training
experience that will prepare her for success as an independent investigator who develops and tests adaptive
interventions to improve the health and well-being of adults with T2D by leveraging the power of social support.
Specific training goals include: (1) deepen knowledge in behavioral diabetes research, (2) develop skills in
qualitative and mixed methods, (3) apply Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework to develop and
optimize adaptive interventions, and (4) lead a clinical trial and strengthen responsible conduct of research
skills. The proposed research includes two specific aims. Aim 1: The PI will adapt components of an evidence-
based family-focused self-care support intervention to target peer-support rather than family-support. Adults
with T2D (n=30) will be recruited to participate in focus groups and iterative rounds of testing to refine the peer-
support components prior to evaluation. A community engagement studio will advise protocols and recruitment.
Aim 2: The PI will recruit and randomize 60 adults with T2D to a pilot sequential multiple assignment
randomized trial (SMART) to test the acceptability and feasibility of random assignment to multiple social-
support focused interventions. The PI will report on the feasibility and acceptability of this innovative approach
to adaptive interventions as well as conduct interviews with participants to further improve the interventions
through a robust mixed-methods evaluation. Improvements, if needed, will be made prior to proposing a fully
powered SMART to optimize the adaptive interventions. At the conclusion of this work, the PI will have robust
preliminary data on the feasibility and acceptability of optimization methodology in adults with T2D, namely
multiple randomizations to social support-focused interventions, to inform a R01-funded SMART. This unique
expertise w...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10947278
- **Project number:** 1K23DK140531-01
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** McKenzie K Roddy
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $186,616
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10947278

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10947278, Optimizing an Adaptive Self-care Support Intervention for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Leveraging their Social Relationships (1K23DK140531-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10947278. Licensed CC0.

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