Development of Manual for Diabetes and Hypertension Peer-support Groups

Danish Red Cross (DRC) MENA is in need of a consultant to compile and develop a Training of Trainers (ToT) Manual on Diabetes and Hypertension to be used by the Lebanon Red Cross (LRC) under a DRC funded project. 

The manual should contain, but not be limited to, the following topics/sessions:
1. INTRODUCTION: Ground rules, ice breaking, consent, confidentiality, aim and content of sessions, location and timing, methods of communication, contingency plans (including WhatApp group).
2. PATIENT EMPOWERMENT: Skills such as active listening, goal setting, self-management plans, understanding roles of different people of diabetes care team and preparing for a consultation.
3. WHAT IS DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION: what is diabetes, what is hypertension, what are the symptoms, shared modifiable risk factors, role of healthy living, treatment options, potential acute complications and when to seek help, long-term complications (with nurse/doctor).
4. LIVING WITH DIABETES: How daily choices and daily routine affect blood sugar? Why it is important to lower HbA1c / blood glucose level? Diabetic foot assessment and care, toenail care, footwear, insulin (storage, dosage, administration), how to act in case of an acute diabetic emergency (hypo or hyperglycemia) (with nurse/doctor). A specific session will be provided for those with hypertension.
5. HEALTHY EATING: what are the effects of an unhealthy diet, what is a healthy diet, how to adapt recommendations to local context, including healthy recipes. Use behavior change techniques (motivational interviewing) (with the support of Celine and Amani, nutritionist within the LRC MSS Department)
6. PROBLEM SOLVING: demonstrate problem solving, strategies to staying motivated, identifying barriers to self-management.
7. STRESS MANAGEMENT: know your stressors, bucket of stress, previous stressful experiences (how your body reacted and how you felt), what do you do (to ease your stress), grounding and breathing techniques.
8. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: effect of physical activity on blood pressure and blood sugar, preparing for exercise (if diabetic) physical activity including exercise examples, setting goals (motivational interviewing).
9. MEDICATIONS AND ADHERENCE: benefits of taking medications, barriers to taking them, purposes, actions, side effects and guidelines for taking certain medications (doctor support).
10. COGNITIVE EXERCISES: to stimulate mental alertness ex: UNO, Bingo, Sudoku, chess, quizzes, backgammon.
11. SOCIAL SUPPORT: buddy system, linking yourself and family, the importance of support systems, service mapping in their regions.
12. Wrap-up, how we will proceed, further questions.

Specific objectives and deliverables:
 Compile an overview (“database”) of existing training material that should be used in the Training of Trainers sessions.
 Develop in consultation with LRC and DRC relevant staff, a Training of Trainers manual for 12 sessions of estimated length of each session 1-1,5 hours, including establishing of peer-support groups, technical topics and involvement of family members and according to above list of topics.
 Provide material to be used in annexes.
 Provide a facilitation guide.
 Provide a check list for each session to be used by social workers with a space for self-evaluation.
 In addition, develop one training session for relevant social workers and/or health staff and PSS core team on the LRC set-up, establishment and facilitation skills for the self-support groups.