Perhaps you have a question or two about TRIAD and you're not sure what or who to ask. Many of the commonly asked questions, including answers have been are provided below. Many questions asked 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.

Q: What is TRIAD?

A: TRIAD stands for Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes. It is a national study
that aims to improve the quality of care and quality of life for people with diabetes.
TRIAD is made up of six research centers that have been looking at the care received
by people with diabetes.

Q: Who are the TRIAD research centers (TRCs) ?

A: Indiana University in Indianapolis Indiana; Kaiser Permanente in Oakland,
California; Pacific Health Research Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii; University of
California at Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California; University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Q: What are the goals of TRIAD?

A: TRIAD wishes to assess the level of care provided to people with diabetes; identify the
barriers that get in the way of people getting care, and find new ways to provide better care
for people with diabetes.

Q: Why is this study focusing on diabetes?

A: Diabetes is a disease that affects some 20.8 million children and adults or 7% of the U.S. population. It is estimated that 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, while another 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are not even aware that they have the disease, (American Diabetes Association, 2006). These are just a couple of facts to explain why it is important for TRIAD to learn as much as possible from those participating in the study.

Q: Why should I participate in the TRIAD Study?

A: Your participation is helping us to answer key questions. For example: "What can be done
to make health care better for people with diabetes?"

Q: What will you do with the information that's collected?

A: First and foremost, all information collected remains CONFIDENTIAL. Second, it will be used to develop new ways to improve the quality of care for people with diabetes throughout the nation!

Q: How many people are participating in the study?

A: Nearly 12,000 individuals from 10 health plans met the study criteria and were randomly selected
to participate.

Q: 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, at this time, TRIAD has recruited enough people to conduct the study.

Q: Who makes up the almost 12,000 participants?

A:

Q: How and when will I know the results?

A: TRIAD has already found some interesting findings from the study. As a result, many paper manuscripts have been published in array of health and medical journals, while others are prepared for journal publication. To view some of the study’s publications to date, please click here.

Q: Will you be contacting me again in the future after I complete the first survey?

A: Yes, we will be mailing you a letter asking you to complete a follow-up written patient survey or a telephone interview survey. Completing this second survey will help us greatly in finishing up this portion of the study.

Q: Why do you need to review my medical chart at my doctor's office?

A: This is a very important part of the study. Reviewing your medical chart will help give us additional health information about your diabetes care and its quality of it. In no way is your doctor's care for you being judged. All of your chart data reviewed remains CONFIDENTIAL!

Q: Can I still participate in the study if I don't want my medical chart reviewed?

A: Absolutely! You will still be a help to us by completing the written health survey or the phone interview survey. We do encourage the medical chart review because it will provide that important additional health care information to the study.

Q: I wish to continue participating in 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.

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CDC Division of Diabetes Translation (CDC)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)