The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58858

Othelia W. Pryor, PhD and Reynard R. Bouknight, MD, PhD. Department of Medicine and OMERAD, Michigan State University, B337 Clinical Center, East Lansing, MI 48824-1313, 517-432-2085, othelia.pryor@ht.msu.edu

Purpose: To engage the Pentecostal church in addressing health issues pertinent to African Americans. Background: Diabetes mellitus is a growing healthcare problem in the United States and disproportionately affects African Americans. Effective means of diabetes education can improve health care outcomes. Many African Americans attend Pentecostal churches and this setting may provide an underutilized opportunity to reach the minority community. Because of strict lifestyle requirements for African Americans of the Pentecostal religion, participants might respond better to health professionals who have both cultural competence and religious credibility. Research Methods/Design: An education intervention that assessed pre and post knowledge of diabetes Results:There were 19 participants, 18 who completed pre and post knowledge items. Most were female (68.4%) and over the age of fifty (68.4%). The pre and post items were analyzed using a paired sample t-test. Most respondents indicated a better understanding about diabetes (p=. 000) and the impact of exercise (p=. 012) in managing diabetes and associated health problems. Conclusions: Church based education programs for African Americans can be effective in increasing the awareness and understanding of health care problems that disproportionately affect the minority community. Providing church education programs, which have cultural competence and religious credibility, may improve their effectiveness in this setting.

Learning Objectives:

Attendee will
• Understand the importance of cultural competence for the effectiveness of Faith-Based educational programs
• Understand the role of religious competence in Faith-Based educational programs.

Keywords: African American, Faith Community

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am an employee of Michigan State University. The Department of Medicine conducted this project with an educational grant received from Pfizer Inc.