1650-P: Overcoming Recruitment and Implementation Challenges in Worksite-Based Diabetes and CVD Prevention in India

Introduction and Objective: Worksite interventions offer scalable diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in India. INtegrating DIAbetes Prevention in WorkplaceS (INDIA-WORKS) study assessed recruitment/implementation barriers and adaptive strategies in a multi-site implementation trial. Methods: INDIA-WORKS tested implementation of a one-year, multi-level lifestyle intervention program at 11 large industrial worksites (15-50,000 employees each) across India. targeting employees with pre-diabetes (HbA1c: 5.7-6.4%) or diabetes (HbA1c ≥6.5%). Phase I screening used random capillary blood glucose (≥110 mg/dL) and Indian Diabetes Risk Score (≥30). Phase II assessments included HbA1c, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and cardiac markers. Post-intervention follow-up was for up to 2 years. Barriers and adaptive strategies at each phase were systematically recorded. Results: During screening, low enrolment and awareness were addressed through management-endorsed messaging and Human Resources (HR) mobilization, resulting in 6265 employees being screened and 2108 found eligible by HbA1c criteria. In the baseline phase, difficulties due to shift work and mobile phone restrictions were overcome by flexible scheduling, digital reminders, and HR mandates, resulting in 1625 (77.1%) completing baseline assessments. Intervention implementation barriers, were addressed through adjusted session hours, incentives, and announcements, resulting in 1356 (64.3%) participants completing the intervention. Maintenance-phase attendance engagement improved with batch flexibility and makeup sessions. Follow-up rates were 70.8% (n=1492) at 1 year and 64.4% (n=1358) at 2 years, aided by reminders, supervisor support, and home visits. Conclusion: Peer-led recruitment and context-specific adaptive strategies enabled effective recruitment and implementation of a scalable workplace diabetes prevention program in India. Disclosure H. Ranjani: None. B. Meena: None. S. Vijayalakshmi: None. R. Anjana: None. D. Pandiyan: None. L. Natarajan: None. J. Sivaram: None. E. Rhodes: None. M.K. Ali: Consultant; Ended; Eli Lilly and Company, Siemens, Novo Nordisk.