Last updated May 29, 2026
Key finding
In adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, a telephone pharmacist intervention did not improve HbA1c or medication adherence compared with usual care.
This large pragmatic trial tested telephone coaching from clinical pharmacists for adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. The program combined motivational interviewing and shared decision-making, but it did not improve HbA1c or medication adherence compared with usual care in the main analysis.
Quick read
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Follow-up
Medium-Term (3–12 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.
Plain-language summary
A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.
Study focus
In adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, a telephone pharmacist intervention did not improve HbA1c or medication adherence compared with usual care.
Published in
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Lauffenburger JC, Ghazinouri R, Jan S, et al. Impact of a novel pharmacist-delivered behavioral intervention for patients with poorly-controlled diabetes: The ENGAGE-DM pragmatic randomized trial. PLOS ONE. 2019;14(4):e0214754. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0214754
HbA1c ↓ similarly in both groups, with no added benefit from intervention in the main randomized analysis
Medication adherence ↔ showed no meaningful between-group difference
As-treated HbA1c ↓ more among those who received the consultation, but this analysis is less definitive
Evidence network
Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.
This study contributes evidence to Telephone-based pharmacist behavioral intervention and HbA1c, Treatment adherence.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Telephone-based pharmacist behavioral intervention
Primary outcomes
Evidence topics
Primary intervention
Primary outcomes
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
Editorial context
See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.
Evidence network role
This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.
4
Related topics
2
Evidence pairs
402
Related studies
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Save studies and evidence pages, organize your personal Evidence Tracker, and keep the research you care about in one place.
Primary evidence
Evidence relationship
Related evidence
Evidence relationship
Save evidence
Evidence topic
Save evidence
Core evidence
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Telephone-based pharmacist behavioral intervention → HbA1c
Telephone-based pharmacist behavioral intervention → HbA1c
Telephone-based pharmacist behavioral intervention → Treatment adherence
Telephone-based pharmacist behavioral intervention → Treatment adherence
Evidence Library
Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.
Adults aged 18 to 64 with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes
The main randomized result found no improvement compared with usual care.
Evidence Library
Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.
Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.
Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and HbA1c, Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Treatment Adherence.
This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Behavioral & Lifestyle
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
All studies on Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs
Contributes to Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs evidence base.
All studies measuring HbA1c
Measures HbA1c as a key outcome.
All studies measuring Treatment Adherence
Measures Treatment Adherence as a key outcome.
Jump to pre-filtered views in Evidence Explorer.
2 results
1 results
2 results
2 results
1 results
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs may improve HbA1c.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
HbA1c
EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Mixed | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on 30 supporting studies with generally consistent results and a positive effect signal.
Limitations
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs may improve Treatment Adherence.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
Treatment adherence
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | weak positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on 9 supporting studies with generally consistent results and a positive effect signal.
Limitations
Next steps
Choose a next path through related evidence topics, Evidence Explorer views, and research summaries.
Follow the topics this study contributes to.
Open broader Evidence Explorer views for this relationship.
Read related research summaries.
Focused on evidence, not advertising.
Your data is always protected.
New studies added every day.
