A critical realist exploration of factors influencing engagement in diabetes prevention programs in rural settings.

Background: Diabetes prevention programs are intended to reduce progression to type 2 diabetes, but are underutilised. This study aimed to explore people with prediabetes' knowledge and attitudes about prediabetes, and their perceptions about engagement in preventive programs in a rural setting. The findings will inform strategies and recommendations to increase preventive health program engagement.

Methods: Using a qualitative approach with a critical realist methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 rural participants with prediabetes from the Northern New South Wales Local Health District in 2021. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. The social-ecological model was used as a framework to interpret and action the study findings.

Results: Factors that empowered participants and facilitated a desire to engage in preventive programs included knowledge about prediabetes, a high level of social support, trusting and supportive relationships with health professionals, and a strong desire not to progress to diabetes. Barriers to program engagement included low health literacy levels, limited support, negative experiences with health services, and social and physical constraints. The factors that influenced engagement with preventive health programs were mapped to an individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and policy level, which highlighted the complex nature of behaviour change and the influence of underlying mechanisms.

Conclusions: Engagement in diabetes prevention programs was dependent on individual agency factors and structural barriers, each of which related to a level of the social-ecological model. Understanding the perceptions of people with prediabetes will inform strategies to overcome multi-level barriers to preventive health program engagement in rural settings.