DAFNEplus research study
Developing and trialling the DAFNEplus (Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating) intervention. A lifelong approach to promote effective self-management in adults with type 1 diabetes.
About the study
CTRU and ScHARR staff have been awarded a five and half year programme grant from the NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Programme Grants for Applied Research.
The aim of this £2.7 million programme is to re-develop and evaluate the DAFNE programme to help people with type 1 diabetes to better manage their condition in line with their lifestyle.
The DAFNEplus research programme involves research groups from across the UK, and is led by Professor Simon Heller, Professor of Clinical Diabetes at the University of Sheffield and Research and Development Director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
This project will see the introduction of a number of programmes, models and improvements to the existing DAFNE programme.
By combining behaviour change techniques and a structured model of support with new technology (such as smartphones and apps), the aim is that adult sufferers will be supported and motivated to manage their own conditions as part of their everyday lives in the longer term.
Once the research has completed, the aim is to provide the full programme as a sustained model of support rather than an initial standalone course.
A number of multi-disciplinary workstreams, outlined below, will develop the intervention before the pilot study with three centres, started in March 2017.
- Workstream 1: Revising the DAFNE Curriculum (Lead: Professor Simon Heller)
- Workstream 2: Developing structured support (Leads: Dr David Hopkins; Dr Peter Mansell)
- Workstream 3: Technology (Lead: Dr Jackie Elliott)
If the pilot is successful, this will be followed by a 14 centre cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) starting in September 2018.
The large scale trial plans to recruit 660 patients to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of DAFNEplus. The primary outcome is blood glucose control, as well as quality of life and relevant psychological outcomes.
The RCT also includes a qualitative sub-study and assessment of intervention fidelity.
Follow the progress of the DAFNEplus programme grant:
- Blog: https://dafneplusresearch.wordpress.com
- Twitter: @dafneplus
Central study staff
| Name | Role | Organisation | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Simon Heller | Chief Investigator | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust / University of Sheffield | s.heller@sheffield.ac.uk |
| Elaine Scott | Study Manager | University of Sheffield | elaine.scott@sheffield.ac.uk |
| Becky Brown | Trials Support Officer | University of Sheffield | becky.brown@sheffield.ac.uk |
| Prof Cindy Cooper | CTRU Oversight | University of Sheffield | c.l.cooper@sheffield.ac.uk |
| Research Assistant |
University of Sheffield |
j.schutter@sheffield.ac.uk | |
| Senior Trial Manager | University of Sheffield | e.a.cross@sheffield.ac.uk |
Recruiting sites and principal investigators
| Name and job title | Site | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Peter Hammond, Consultant Physician | Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust |
01423 553 747 |
| Dr Mark Evans, Honorary Consultant Physician and Lecturer | Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
01223 336 994 |
| Sarah Long, Acting PI (Caroline Maine, Senior Diabetes Dietitian) | University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
0203 447 9289 |
| Rosanne Dunkley, Specialist Community Diabetes Dietitian | Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
01527 488 679 |
| Dr Fiona Green, Consultant Physician | NHS Dumfries and Galloway | |
| Dr Emma Wilmot, Consultant Diabetologist | Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
07834 279 911 |
| Dr Helen Hopkinson, Consultant Physician | Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board |
0141 347 8287 |
| Nardos Yemane, Diabetes Dietitian | Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust |
0207 188 1967 |
| Tina Spence, Diabetes Specialist Nurse | South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
01642 854 235 |
| Lindsay Ochiltree, Diabetes Specialist Nurse | Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust |
07919 303 443 |
| Tasso Gazis, Consultant in Endocrinology, Diabetes and General Medicine | Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust |
07985 443 785 |
| Professor Thozhukat Sathyapalan, Honorary Consultant Endocrinologist | Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust |
thozhukat.sathyapalan@hyms.ac.uk 01482 675 312 |
| Angela Thomas, Advanced Diabetes Specialist Nurse | Birmingham Community NHS Foundation Trust |
angela.thomas@bhamcommunity.nhs.uk 0121 245 5720 |
Co-investigators
| Name | Role | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Professor Stephanie Amiel | Professor of Diabetic Medicine | King’s College London |
| Professor Wendy Baird | Professor of Health Services Research | University of Sheffield |
| Dr Mohammed Benaissa | Senior Lecturer (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) | University of Sheffield |
| Professor Alan Brennan | Professor of Health Economics and Decision Modelling | University of Sheffield |
| Professor Michael Campbell | Professor of Medical Statistics | University of Sheffield |
| Dr Debbie Cooke | Senior Lecturer (Health Psychology) | University of Surrey |
| Dr Jackie Elliott | Senior Clinical Lecturer / Consultant Diabetologist | University of Sheffield |
| Simon Fisher | Patient Representative | DAFNE Online |
| Dr David Hopkins | Senior Consultant Physician, Diabetologist | King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
| Professor Julia Lawton | Professor of Health and Social Science | University of Edinburgh |
| Dr Peter Mansell | Consultant in General Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology | Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust |
| Professor Susan Michie | Professor of Health Psychology | University College London |
| Professor Jane Speight | Professor of Behavioural and Social Research in Diabetes | Deakin University, Australia |
| Carolin Taylor | DAFNE Educator and Diabetes Specialist Nurse | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Gill Thompson | National DAFNE Collaborative Manager | Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
| Professor Lucy Yardley | Professor of Health Psychology | University of Southampton |