580-P: Dialogues in Diabetes—Addressing Knowledge and Behavior Gaps among Clinicians Who Care for Patients with Diabetes and Obesity

Rationale: While obesity management may be beneficial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), achieving weight loss required to achieve these benefits is difficult. New incretin-based options can help treat both conditions, but clinicians lack awareness of and comfort in using these agents.

Methods: Vindico provided a continuing education (CE) e-monograph designed for primary care providers (PCPs) and endocrinologists who treat patients with diabetes. Baseline knowledge and behaviors as well as educational impact were assessed via pre- and post-test.

Results: A total of 1,692 PCPs and 535 specialists read the monograph. Baseline knowledge was low (average 36% correct) on all topics and was similar between cohorts, except regarding multi-receptor agonism and the impact on weight and A1C, on which specialists scored higher than PCPs (54% vs. 41%). Both cohorts scored lowest regarding the use of incretin-based therapies. Despite this, baseline reported use of incretin-based therapies was high, suggesting that while providers think they are practicing the latest evidence-based care, they may not be. Post-learning, there was 44% relative increase in knowledge, demonstrating large gains in knowledge across cohorts and topics. These knowledge gains translated into 72% of endocrinologists and 70% of PCPs having high levels of post-education confidence regarding the use of new incretin-based options as well as increased preparedness to implement new incretin-based options into practice. Because of the education provided, over 12,000 patients with diabetes and overweight or obesity per week are 56% more likely to receive the latest evidence-based care.

Conclusion: In our dataset, providers had inadequate baseline knowledge regarding the burden of obesity in patients with diabetes and new strategies for weight loss. The findings illustrate the benefit of targeted CE on clinician knowledge, behaviors, and confidence towards improved patient outcomes.