If you build it, will they come?. Reach and Adoption associated with a comprehensive lifestyle management program for women with type 2 diabetes.

This paper describes recruitment and participation of physicians and patients in a randomized study to evaluate the effects of a moderately intensive (2-year) lifestyle management intervention for post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes at risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). The purpose of this report is to answer two practical public health questions: (1) "Will physicians refer their patients with type 2 diabetes to such an intensive lifestyle change program?" and, if so, (2) "Will these patients participate?" Results showed high (70%) acceptance among physicians. About 51% of eligible patients agreed to participate, which was encouraging given the substantial time commitment involved. Main reasons for refusal were lack of eligible patients (among physicians) and lack of time (among patients). Patient participants and non-participants did not differ significantly on age, body mass, and other demographic and medical variables. Based on these results, it appears that appropriate recruitment procedures will yield a representative sample of women willing to participate in intensive lifestyle management programs.