Kevin A. Peterson MD, MPH

Current Position:
Assistant Professor
Department of Family Practice and Community Health
University of Minnesota

Research Interests and areas of potential collaboration:
Diabetes and primary care

ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes)

EastMetro PI
A 2x2x2 RCT examining glycemic, blood pressure, and lipid control in 10,000 type 2 diabetes patients

East Metro Diabetes Initiative
A joint ventrue with United Hosptial Foundation and HealthEast examining  methods to improve translation of new diabetes research into community practices.  This project currently electronically links 21 clinical practices in the East Metro region, and follows over 6500 people with diabetes.

MAFPRN - One of the country's largest primary care based resarch networks, the MAFPRN currently has four major studies ongoing.  This includes Exploring Options for Health After Menopause. MAFPRN is collaborating with the AMC Cancer Research Center to evaluate risk assessment strategies for primary care physicians, and test a self-tailored decision aid workbook and audiotape designed for post menopausal women  interested in HRT or alternatives.  This study has two specific aims:

(1) encourage and enable joint patient-physician risk assessment and decision-making regarding hormonal treatment in postmenopausal patients; and

(2) demonstrate that patient enrollment from primary care practices into the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene breast cancer prevention trial is enhanced with the use of a decision aid by women seen by their primary care physician.

Minnesota-Wisconsin Men's Health Study
MAFPRN is collaborating with the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota and the Marshfield Clinic (Wisconsin) on this two-year case control study that was funded by the National Cancer Institute.  The objective of this study is to determine whether environmental and occupational factors interacting with specific genetic markers are associated with the risk of developing prostate cancer.  Clinic recruitment around the state of Minnesota began in July 2000.

Diabetes Outcome Study
MAFPRN is collaborating with Baylor College of Medicine and the AAFP National Network for Family Practice and Primary Care Research on this project, funded by Eli Lilly and Company.  The objectives of the study are to:

(1) describe the outcomes of Type 2 Diabetes achieved by primary care clinicians and their patients; and

(2) identify the major physician, practice, and patient factors associated with glycemic control and health related quality of life indicators of these patients. 

Management Care Guidelines Study
The majority of medical practice in the 21st Century will be conducted within the environment of managed care plans, with a focus on controlling health care costs while maintaining high quality patient care.  Physicians will need to understand and effectively navigate management care guidelines within this environment.  This project introduces a computer-based educational program about management care guidelines into the clinical curriculum of medical school residencies in family medicine.  The study is designed to gauge medical residents' attitudes toward and improve their understanding of management care guidelines.  Residents compare their own management plan for a particular patient with one generated by the computer software program (QualityFIRST Guidelines Version 4.7, developed by the Institute for Healthcare Quality, Inc.) after answering a short series of questions.  During the summer of 1999 the MAFP Research Network recruited seven residency programs in Minnesota and Iowa to participate in this educational study.  Data collection began in December 1999 and is nearly complete.

Selected publications:

Peterson KA, Spann SJ, Primary care for patients with type 2 diabetes, Moving beyond hyperglycemia, Journal of Family Practice 1998, 47(5):S63-64.

Peterson KA, Primary care of type 2 diabetes: The challenges of emerging evidence, Journal of Family Practice 1998, 47(5):S11.

Peterson KA , Vinicor F.  Strategies to improve diabetes care delivery, Journal of Family Practice 1998,47(5):S55-62.