LAUSR

Key Points Question Is Empowering Patients in Chronic Care (EPICC), an evidence-based, collaborative goal-setting approach using peer coaching and individual motivational interviewing, effective at reducing hemoglobin A1c levels and diabetes-associated distress among adults in routine primary care settings? Findings In this randomized clinical trial involving 280 participants from 5 Veterans Affairs clinics in Illinois, Indiana, and Texas, the EPICC group had significant improvements in hemoglobin A1c levels at 4 months post intervention, but improvements were not sustained at 10 months (maintenance) compared with the enhanced usual care group. Compared with usual care, EPICC demonstrated modest improvements in diabetes-associated distress post intervention that were sustained during maintenance. Meaning These findings suggest that a patient-empowerment approach using collaborative goal setting, peer coaching, and motivational interviewing is feasible in primary care clinics and is modestly effective at reducing diabetes-associated distress, although it may not sustain improvements in glycemic control compared with usual care.