Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112277

A. Cherrington, MD¹, Melida Colindres, MPH¹, Guadalupe X. Ayala, PhD, MPH², and Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD, MSc³. (1) Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar's Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7105, 5034 Old Clinic Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, 919-966-0506, andrea_cherrington@med.unc.edu, (2) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, CB #7440, Rosenau Hall 315, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, (3) Department of Social Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wing D Medical School, CB#7164, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7164

Diabetes mellitus is a common, chronic disease that leads to increased morbidity, mortality, decreased quality of life and increased expenditures. The prevalence of diabetes and its complications are higher in Latinos and traditional approaches to diabetes education and self-management have been less successful among racial/ethnic minorities. This project explored issues in diabetes self-management among Latino adults with diabetes living in a rural county North Carolina.

Six focus groups were conducted with Latino adults with diabetes. Participants were recruited from a local Health Department, a Community Health Center, and local community centers. Each focus group, moderated by a bilingual-bicultural woman, lasted 90 minutes and began with a brief demographic and psychosocial survey. Discussion topics included: diabetes management, perceived control, emotional barriers, gender differences, and program elements. Themes were identified using a combined deductive/inductive approach.

The 35 participants', (11 men and 24 women) mean age was 39 (18-65); the majority were from Mexico (29/35). Mean time with diabetes was 5 years (3 months to 35 years). Participants believed it possible to control diabetes through diet modification, physical activity, abstinence from tobacco and alcohol, and medications. Many felt that being “stressed out” or “sad” affected control of diabetes and that people with diabetes should avoid “strong emotion”. Patients identified lack of knowledge as the biggest barrier to self-management, including specifics about how insulin works in the body and how to modify diet with regard to food types and portion sizes. Other barriers included no time for physical activity and family influences on diet.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants in this session will be able to

• List at least three potential barriers to self-management for Latino adults with diabetes.
• Discuss specific program elements that could address each of these barriers.

Keywords: Latino Health, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.