Perhaps you have a question about TRIAD and you're not sure what or who to ask. Many of the commonly asked questions with answers are provided below. Questions about TRIAD have come from study participants, family and friends of study participants, and medical and health professionals.
If you have a question that's not answered here, please feel free to e-mail it to us. We'll be more than happy to get back to you with an answer.
Where are the TRIAD research centers (TRCs)?
Why is this study focusing on diabetes?
What will you do with the information that has been collected?
How many people participated in this study?
I'm currently not participating in the study, but I would like to. How do I become a participant?
Who do these 12,000 participants represent?
How and when will I know the results?
A: TRIAD stands for Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes and is a study made up of six research centers affiliated with 10 health plans that has been looking at the care received by people with diabetes in managed care settings over the past 9 years.
Where are the TRIAD research centers (TRCs) ?
A: Indiana University in Indianapolis Indiana
Kaiser
Permanente Northern California in Oakland, California
Pacific Health Research Institute in Honolulu,
Hawaii
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in Newark, New Jersey
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
A: TRIAD aims to assess the level of care provided to people with diabetes, to identify the system and patient-level factors that facilitate or diminish quality care or good outcomes, and to find new ways to improve care and outcomes for people with diabetes
Why is this study focusing on diabetes?
A: Diabetes is a disease that now affects nearly 24 million people or almost 8% of the U.S. population. This is an increase of over 3 million individuals from approximately two years ago based on the new 2007 incidence data estimates. Additionally, while there are approximately 24 million individuals with diabetes, it is estimated that an additional 57 million people have prediabetes, a condition that can increases one risk for diabetes. Furthermore, according to the 2006 U.S. death certificates, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death and is likely thought to be an underreported cause of death. Lastly, the number of health complications linked to diabetes, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney and nervous system disease has increased (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2007). These are just a few facts to explain why it is important for TRIAD to learn as much as possible from those participating in the study.
For more information about diabetes, please check the National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2007.
What will you do with the information that has been collected?
A: It will be used to conduct research that will help in developing new ways to improve the quality of care for people with diabetes throughout the nation.
How many people participated in the study?
A: Nearly 12,000 individuals from 10 health plans met the study criteria and were randomly selected to participate.
I'm currently not participating in the study, but I would like to. How do I become a participant?
A: We do appreciate your interest. However, TRIAD is no longer recruiting participants into this study.
Who do these 12,000 participants represent?
A:
Male |
47% |
|---|---|
Ages |
18 - 100 years old |
White non-Hispanic |
39% |
Black non-Hispanic |
15% |
Hispanic |
15% |
Asian/Pacific Islander |
15% |
American Indian/Alaskan |
1% |
Other non-Hispanic |
3% |
Unknown/missing |
13% |
For more in-depth information regarding participants, please click here.
How and when will I know the results?
A: TRIAD has already discovered many interesting findings from the study. These have been published in an array of health and medical journals, while others are being prepared for publication. To view a list of current study publications, please click here.
I wish to continue contact with the study, but some information about me has changed. What should I do?
A: Please do not hesitate to contact us with any new information about yourself or perhaps for a family member. The change of information could be anything at all, such as a new phone number, mailing address, or any other information you feel could affect you or someone else's participation in the study. Feel free to contact us with your updated information.
A: The study is currently scheduled to end January 31, 2009, however we will continue analysis throughout 2010.
