Outline of DPM training schedule
| Timeline (in weeks) | Training setting | Session details | PowerPoint (pp) presentation | Paired practice work* | Practice work aims |
| Week 1 | Group | Session No: 1 Session title: Introduction and getting started Duration: 2 hours Topics covered: Research overview, introduction to diabetes and mentor role and behavior change Provider: Researcher (chartered psychologist) | Yes | No | n/a |
| Week 2 | Group | Session No: 2 Session title: Healthy eating and fats Duration: 2 hours Topics covered: Healthy eating, eat well guide, vitamins and minerals, fats Provider: Researcher (chartered psychologist) | Yes | No | n/a |
| Week 3 | Group | Session No: 3 Session title: Active listening skills Duration: 2.5 hours Topics covered: Active listening skills—open questions, summarizing, reflecting back, paraphrasing Provider: Researcher (chartered psychologist) and learning facilitator and coach | No | Yes | First practice of active listening skills |
| Week 4 | Group | Session No: 4 Session title: Getting active Duration: 2 hours Topics covered: Physical activity—cardiovascular and resistance exercise Provider: Researcher (chartered psychologist) | Yes | Yes | Practice opening and closing of a call, practice active listening skills for a 6 min conversation |
| Week 5 | Group | Session No: 5 Session title: Portion control and labels Duration: 2 hours Topics covered: Portion control and labels, traffic light system, ingredients list Provider: Researcher (chartered psychologist) | Yes | Yes | Practice active listening skills for an 8 min conversation |
| Week 6 | Group | Session No: 6 Session title: Motivational interviewing Duration: 2.5 hours Topics covered: Motivational interviewing—establishing rapport, expressing empathy, self-efficacy, rolling with resistance, developing discrepancy Provider: Researcher (chartered psychologist) and motivational interviewing trainer | No | Yes | Practice motivation interviewing skills during a 10 min conversation |
| Week 7 | Group | Session No: 7 Session title: Maintaining change Duration: 2 hours Topics covered: Motivation, confidence, importance Provider: Researcher (chartered psychologist) | Yes | Yes | Practice motivation interviewing skills during a 14 min conversation |
| Training setting | Session details | Practice work aims | |||
| Week 8 | One to one | Session title: First practice call Duration: 20 min Provider: Researcher (chartered psychologist) | Assessment of opening and closing the call and the use of skills taught for a total call length of 15 min. | ||
| Week 9 (and onwards if additional practice required) | One to one | Session title: Additional practice call/s (if needed) Duration: 20 min Provider: Researcher (chartered psychologist) | Additional practice call conducted if skills were not up to standard at first call. Calls conducted until both parties are confident in peer supporters’ ability. | ||
*‘Paired Practice Work’ means being placed with a partner (a fellow DPM being trained) and conducting a role-play-based telephone call. This is usually conducted with DPM sitting back-to-back as to not be distracted by facial expressions.
DPM, diabetes prevention mentor; n/a, not applicable.