Introduction and Objective: The University of California Diabetes Prevention Program (UC DPP) was implemented in all 10 UC campuses in 2018 to address the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Scant research exists documenting the degree to which social drivers of health (SDOH) influence DPP participation. To address this gap, UC DPP Implementation Partners (IP) were interviewed to identify the impact of SDOH on DPP engagement. Methods: We conducted 30 in-depth interviews with IP using a semi-structured interview guide between March-May 2025. IP were asked to what extent SDOH may impact DPP engagement among DPP eligible adults, whether they provide resources to address SDOH, and if they tailor the DPP curriculum to specific groups. We used Rapid Qualitative Analysis, a method widely used in implementation research, to analyze interview transcripts. Results: Most IP (n =19) perceived that SDOH impacts DPP engagement. The most cited barriers included food insecurity and physical activity restrictions, such as unsafe neighborhoods and inability to access exercise facilities. The majority of IP (n=25) provided SDOH resources to DPP participants, including a) food assistance, b) community or employee resources, and c) exercise resources or equipment. Service and shift workers were disproportionately impacted by some additional SDOH, including lack of technology access and inflexible break schedules. Some IP reported addressing barriers by tailoring the curriculum, hiring linguistically and culturally congruent coaches, adjusting delivery modality, and offering paid time during the workday to attend DPP sessions. Conclusion: Most IP recognized SDOH barriers among UC DPP participants and provided a range of resources to mitigate SDOH and facilitate DPP engagement. To enhance DPP participation and engagement nationally, baseline and periodic SDOH assessments, along with the provision of SDOH resources, should be incorporated into real-world DPP delivery. Disclosure J. Cushing: None. A.M. Smith-Clapham: None. T.B. Loeb: None. O. Duru: Consultant; Current; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. C. Mangione: None. S. Soetenga: None. K.L. Shedd: None. U.R. Chung: None. W. Slusser: Stock/Shareholder; Current; Amgen Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S. A. Hamilton: None. T. Moin: None. Funding NIH/NIDDK (1R01DK124503)
Cushing et al. (Fri,) studied this question.