1-OR: A Social Media-Based Intervention Improves Glycemic Control in a Low-Income Older Immigrant Population

Purpose: Access to in-person diabetes self-management education (DSME) programs is limited in underserved immigrant communities. In this report, we examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a social media-based DSME intervention in low-income older Chinese immigrants with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: This was a single-group study in 30 Chinese immigrants with T2D living in NYC. The intervention included 24 culturally and linguistically tailored DSME videos. Over 12 weeks, participants received 2 brief videos each week via WeChat, a free social media app popular among Chinese immigrants. Feasibility was defined as ability to achieve: 1) the recruitment goal (n=30); 2) ­>80% retention; and 3) >80% watch rate. Acceptability was assessed via a satisfaction survey at 6 months. HbA1c was collected at baseline and 6 months Results: Recruitment was completed prior to the NYC COVID-19 lockdown. Despite COVID-19, the intervention continued without interruption. Participants were mostly female (70.0%), married (63.3%), with limited English proficiency (86.7%), and a mean age of 61.2 (SD=6.7) years old. Most reported an annual household income of Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated that a social media-based DSME intervention is feasible, acceptable, and potentially efficacious in an aging low-income immigrant population with T2D. These findings provide timely implications in the era of COVID-19, suggesting older low-income immigrants can be engaged in mHealth interventions. Disclosure L. Hu: None. N. Islam: None. A. Y. Kharmats: None. K. Tamura: None. S. Yang: None. X. Xu: None. B. Fan: None. M. Sevick: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (K99MD012811, R00MD012811)