Omada Program Achieves Key Results with Underserved Populations

Omada Program Achieves Key Results with Underserved Populations

San Francisco, CA (February 13, 2020) --  A recent study shows the Omada Diabetes Prevention program can deliver meaningful engagement and clinical outcomes for underserved populations. The trial, published in Preventing Chronic Disease, tracked 227 individuals who enrolled in Omada’s adapted Program for Underserved Populations. Participants in the study averaged more than four percent weight loss one year after beginning the program. The program also achieved strong engagement, with more than half of participants completing the DPP program.

Enrollment was offered at a federally qualified health center and outpatient clinic in a large public teaching hospital in Southern California, and at a clinic within a private, integrated health care network in Washington state from February 2016 through April 2018. Participants’ average age was 48 years, with an average BMI of 34.6. More than 80 percent of trial participants were female, and 47 percent were Spanish speakers. All participants had insurance through Medicaid, or Marketplace health insurance plan.

“The Omada program lowers the barriers to access, and ultimately increases preventive health engagement among any population,” said Omada Director of Clinical Research Cynthia Castro Sweet, PhD. “Our program was developed to serve the needs of participants from all backgrounds, and all walks of life. The results of this trial dispels the myth that people with economic or educational disadvantages can’t or won’t use technology to engage in their health care.”

Clinicians referred patients into the program, and actively monitored their progress. The program helped to stimulate discussion between patients and their doctors about the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle. Group members also reported benefits to their families - some of whom adopted healthy lifestyle changes in support of their family members efforts to lose weight. 

The California Health Care Foundation and The Kresge Foundation supported the adaptation and trial work. A team of independent evaluators at USC monitored program enrollment, participant engagement, and clinically-meaningful outcomes, assessing hospital and health system data utilization and interview provider teams for qualitative feedback. 

“While in-person DPP is effective, it can be hard to access, especially for people with lower incomes who might struggle with transportation or child care,” said Melissa Buckley, Director of the CHCF Health Innovation Fund. “This virtual alternative puts the benefits of DPP within reach for many more patients.”

“As providers and health policy makers consider options to prevent diabetes, this study shows that a digitally delivered intervention can be an effective option,” said David Fukuzawa, Managing Director of The Kresge Foundation’s Health Program. “People should be given choices of and access to digital diabetes prevention solutions to improve their health.”

Participants enrolled in the study received access to Omada’s PUP program, with assistance from the enrolling clinical location. Individuals received access to a year-long, CDC-approved curriculum, which was adapted through community-engaged, iterative design work with UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations. In addition, participants had access to a bilingual Omada health coach, received a wireless scale synced to their accounts, and were grouped with other individuals progressing through the curriculum on the same schedule. Omada’s Program for Underserved Populations made the following adaptations to the program:

• Situational and economic awareness and sensitivity to food access, neighborhood safety, and economic insecurity;
• Bilingual (Spanish and English) health coaches and support staff experienced in working with under-resourced populations; and
• Adapted curriculum for lower-level literacy and English as a second language.

“This study demonstrates that Omada achieves real outcomes with this difficult-to-reach population,” said Omada Health CEO, Sean Duffy. “Digital health tools should be offered to all populations, especially when sufficient evidence shows that they can be as effective as in-person programs. By making virtual alternatives less accessible, we deny low-income patients an opportunity to lead healthier, more productive lives.” 

About Omada Health:

Omada Health is a digital care program that inspires and engages people to achieve their health goals, one step at a time. The program is personalized to meet each participant’s unique needs as they evolve, ranging from diabetes prevention, type 2 diabetes management, and behavioral health, and combines professional health coaching, connected health devices, real-time data and personalized feedback to deliver clinically meaningful results. The company is the largest CDC-recognized provider of the National Diabetes Prevention Program. Omada Health was named a 2016 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, and one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2017. To learn more, visit www.omadahealth.com.