A Community-Based, Culturally Sensitive Education and Group-Support Intervention for Mexican Americans With NIDDM: A Pilot Study of Efficacy

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of providing a diabetes patient education and group-support intervention that was directed by a Mexican-American clinical nurse specialist (CNS), dietitian, and community worker; consistent with national standards; and designed for the Mexican-American culture. In a rural Texas-Mexico border community, subjects with diabetes were randomly selected to participate in the intervention, and a family member of each subject participated as a support person. The intervention involved 8 weeks of educational sessions with instruction on nutrition, blobd glucose self-monitoring, exercise, and other diabetes self-management topics, and provided group support. Group discussion was facilitated using a series of Spanish-language videotapes that had been developed and previously tested in the target Mexican-American community. Results suggested statistically significant improvements in diabetes knowledge, fasting blood sugar levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. The study documented the feasibility and potential benefits of the intervention.

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