Building an Interprofessional Team to Enhance Rural Pediatric Diabetes Care

Interprofessional research teams improve population health by integrating diverse expertise, offering valuable insights into complex issues like type 1 diabetes (T1D), particularly in rural communities. Collaboration enables the development of clinical interventions that address the multifaceted nature of chronic illnesses, ultimately improving health outcomes. Involving students in these teams provides hands-on experience, nurtures fresh perspectives, and prepares the next generation of professionals for patient-centered healthcare environments. Goals, objectives, and purpose: To describe how an interprofessional team incorporated international students and community stakeholders to launch a community-engaged research trajectory. They used a flipped model where community stakeholders advised the team on necessary approaches to effectively addresses healthcare access and quality issues faced by families of children with T1D. Methods/Methodology: Focus groups and interviews with rural patients and caregivers identified barriers to accessing T1D care. A Patient-Centered Advisory Research Team (PCART) was formed to address these issues. Data from the focus groups were shared with PCART and other T1D stakeholders to generate future research questions, propose solutions, and assist in disseminating the findings. Results/Findings: The initial engagement award led to collaboration on three additional internal grants, expanding the number of interprofessional students/research assistants including those from occupational therapy, pharmacy, nursing, and science disciplines. A pilot randomized control trial was launched to test the effectiveness of a telehealth-delivered occupation-based coaching intervention for families. Five additional grants were secured, doubling funding and supporting all 10 students involved. Conclusions, implications, and/or curiosities: The engagement award was crucial in identifying the unique challenges faced by rural families managing their child’s T1D. Engaging students in such projects fostered hands on experience, deepened their understanding of the complexities of healthcare research, and prepared them for future leadership roles. This team developed mutual respect and shared goals with the community and with one another allowing them to work effectively together.