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Group visits have been proposed as an efficient approach to chronic disease management, but the specific features and effectiveness of such groups vary widely. In this comparative effectiveness trial from Texas, 87 Veterans Affairs patients with diabetes mellitus (DM; mean age, 63; mean glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] level, 8.8%) who had previously received extensive routine primary care and DM education were randomized to one of two forms of group visits for 12 weeks.
The intervention patients received four 1-hour group sessions led by a physician; these sessions focused on goal-setting and action plans and provided advice on how to talk to and work with physicians. Each session was followed by a 10-minute individual consultation with the …