Nutrients · 9 authors, 6 centres
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This pragmatic trial compared virtual culinary medicine to Medical Nutrition Therapy for patients with uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes. After initial low participation, researcher-led interviews identified key barriers, leading to operational changes that improved recruitment and engagement in the ongoing trial.
This pragmatic randomized trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of virtual culinary medicine (eCM) to Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for patients with uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes in a safety-net healthcare system. Following initial low eCM participation, researchers paused recruitment, conducted eight semi-structured interviews, and used rapid thematic analysis to identify barriers. Key obstacles included transportation, conflicts with supply pick-up, and discomfort with the virtual platform. Operational modifications were implemented, such as moving supply pick-up to a familiar community clinic, offering an in-person orientation, and emphasizing the instructor's relatability. These changes led to the recruitment of 79 participants, with 75% attending at least one class. The study describes the process of redesigning recruitment and engagement strategies but does not report the final comparative effectiveness outcomes of the interventions. Limitations include the focus on process rather than clinical outcomes and the challenges of engaging an underserved population in virtual platforms.
