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

Abstract #62724

Katharine H. Hendrix, MS, PhD(Cand)¹, Carolyn M. Jenkins, MSN, DRPH¹, Gayenell Magwood, RN, MSN, PhD(Cand)¹, and Charles L. Hossler, MSN². (1) REACH 2010, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, PO Box 250160, 99 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, 843-792-5469, hendrikh@musc.edu, (2) College of Nursing, Project REACH, Medical University of South Carolina, 159 Rutledge Avenue, PO Box 250219, Charleston, SC 29425

Hospitalizations for diabetes continue to be higher in African Americans (AA) than Caucasians (C) in South Carolina. Trend analyses indicate rates of complications for AA are rising more rapidly than for C. To improve this trend, it is necessary to illuminate psychosocial domains that may support behaviors extenuating racial disparities. Authors used a self-report survey to investigate racial differences in self-care, health provider and health system trust, self-efficacy, attributions, knowledge, diabetes burden, and social support which may underlie outcome disparities. All scales were reliable in this population (a = .62 - .92). Surveys were administered to AA and C with diabetes (N=300: n=150AA; n=150C). Responses were stratified by race. Analyses of variance identified variables of significant difference (a=.05). Significant differences were found in 58% of variables regarding self-care (< .0001 - .005), 20% of trust in health provider variables (.001), 100% of treatment effectiveness variables (< .0001 - .02), 71% of diabetes knowledge variables (.001 - .03), 47% of diabetes limitations variables (< .0001 - .04), 50% of self-efficacy variables (.001 - .009), 33% of attribution variables (.002 - .01), 25% of general social support variables (.006 - .0006), and 75% of diabetes specific support variables (< .0001 - .02). Although C with diabetes have better health outcomes than AA, C responses indicated less ideal self-care and knowledge than AA. The direction of differences for each scale is discussed. Results suggest attending to psychosocial domains such as empowerment, critical thinking, and attribution may improve diabetes outcomes in this population of AA.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify psycho-social domains that differ by race among people with diabetes. Discuss how psycho-social differences can be addressed in diabetes interventions to improve outcomes.

Keywords: Diabetes, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.