Kathleen L. Barr, PhD, RN and Barbara J Head, PhD, RN. College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5330, 402-559-6616, klbarr@unmc.edu

Latino children are at particularly high risk for type 2 diabetes due to genetic and lifestyle factors. Development of type 2 diabetes in childhood is likely to have serious negative consequences for future health. A major modifiable risk factor is overweight/obesity (ADA, 2000), which has been linked to low physical activity, excessive sedentary activity, and high fat food intake. Lifestyle interventions may be among the most effective interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes (Diabetes Prevention Research Group, 2002). This study in progress combines descriptive (focus group discussion) and experimental designs to include 32 Latino parents and 80 Latino children (K-2) attending an urban “mission” school. Focus groups (in Spanish or English, as participants prefer) with families of these young children (aged 5-8) are establishing a base of knowledge of cultural norms and preferences in the areas of (1) physical activity, (2) cooking and eating patterns, (3) knowledge of type 2 diabetes risk factors, and (4) communication of personal health information. All child participants receive assessment of their risk for type 2 diabetes, including measurement of biomarkers and behavioral factors, and families receive mailed child health information. In addition, intervention group children and families receive a Health Report Card (Chomitz et al, 2003) (HRC) intervention developed using focus group findings. The HRC is discussed in a face-to-face conference in Spanish or English (as parents prefer) to provide parents with information to encourage culturally-tailored health lifestyle modifications for children at risk. Intervention effectiveness will be evaluated using an experimental design.

References:

American Diabetes Association (2000). "Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents." Diabetes Care 23(3): 381-9.

Chomitz, V. R., J. Collins, et al. (2003). "Promoting healthy weight among elementary school children via a Health Report Card approach." Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine 157(August): 765-772.

Diabetes Prevention Research Group. (2002). "Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin." The New England Journal of Medicine 346(6): 393-403.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Articulate an understanding of Latino cultural norms and preferences for physical activity and eating patterns for children.
• 2.Analyze the modified Health Report Card intervention as a method to encourage healthy lifestyle modifications for at risk children.

Keywords: Diabetes, Latino

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.