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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Carlos Zometa, PhD, MSPH¹, Edith Kieffer, PhD², Michael Spencer, PhD², Gloria Palmisano, BS, MA³, Ricardo Guzman, MSW, MPH⁴, Aisha Taylor, BA⁵, Michael Anderson³, Fawn Nance³, and Michele Heisler, MD, MPA⁶. (1) W.K. Kellogg Community Health Scholar, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, M3055, SPH2, 109 Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-647-4799, czometa@umich.edu, (2) School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 S. University St., Room 3747, Box 183, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106, (3) REACH-Detroit Partnership, 2727 Second Ave., Detroit, MI 48201, (4) Community Health & Social Services Center, Inc, 5635 W. Fort St, Detroit, MI 48209, (5) Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, M3055, SPH2, 109 Observatory, ann arbor, MI 48109, (6) Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, VA HSR & D, PO Box 130170, Ann Arbor, MI 48113

The REACH Detroit Partnership is a CDC-funded multi-level intervention that attempts to reduce disparities in diabetes care and outcomes among African-Americans and Latinos residing in eastside and southwest Detroit. "Journey to Health" is a diabetes awareness and prevention curriculum facilitated by trained community Family Health Advocates (FHAs) in both English and Spanish. The study's purpose is to describe the implementation of the process evaluation and to demonstrate how the results influenced the refinement of the curriculum. The methods relied on a participatory approach that included a review of the existing curricular materials and observations of the five meetings. Eight FHAs and ten community class participants were selected for focused group discussion. A community panel reviewed the results and the findings were disseminated to REACH Detroit staff and community members. The results identified the need for more active learning strategies and an in-depth coverage of the food label and other nutrition topics. Subsequent observations of the meetings determined clients were engaged and eager to learn more about diabetes. Clients and FHAs expressed similar preferences for increasing active learning strategies, reducing the amount of reading and adding physical activity to every meeting. Participants' perspectives guided the addition of four new lessons which were demonstrated and evaluated. In conclusion, the evaluation demonstrated how interactive education that empowers individuals with the highest risk for complications associated with diabetes is a viable strategy for eliminating/reducing disparities. A community based-participatory research approach is recommended as a way to develop program improvement.

Learning Objectives:

Participants in this session will
• Know how a community-based participatory research approach was used to conduct a process evaluation of a diabetes awareness and prevention curriculum.
• Describe how recommendations made by Family Health Advocates and participants (African Americans and Latinos) enrolled in the “Journey to Health” improved the curriculum's content.
• List strategies preferred by Family Health Advocates and participants to increase the level of satisfaction and use of the curriculum.

Keywords: Community Participation, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation