3224.0: Monday, November 13, 2000 - Board 1

Abstract #14021

Chronic Disease Management in a Primarily African American Community: A Staged-Based Approach

Aisha El-Amin, RN, MN, Medical Services Department, Daughters of Charity Health Services of New Orleans --Daughters of Charity Health Center, 3900 South Carrollton Avenue, none, New Orleans, LA 70118, (504) 482-0084 ext. 215, aelamin@dcsno.org

This poster describes the utility of the modified Transtheoretical model (Prochaska, Johnson and Lee, 1998) to manage clients with diabetes annd cardiovascular diseases. This change model is an integration of processes and principles derived from leading psychology and behavior change theories. Physical, societal, environmental, lingual and cultural barriers are identified. Overcoming theses obstacles must occur if clients are to make difficult behavior changes, such as adhering to medication regimens, monitoring symptoms, dieting, exercising and ceasing to smoke. Traditional medical care has been notoriously unsuccessful in initiating and sustaining these types of changes. The goals of this initiative are to improve outcomes and to decrease the health costs in this African American population. The objectives are 1)to identify each client's readiness,(2)to reduce barriers or obstacles that interfere with these difficult changes, (3) to implement behavioral interventions based on the behaviors-specific level of readiness and 4)to evaluate performance outcomes to determine the relevance, progress, efficacy, effectiveness and impact of this initiative. Based on a comprehensive intake assessment, each client is determined to be at Step I (Decision to Change), Step II (Behavior Change) or Step III (Maintenance of Behavior), and the appropriate step-tailored interventions as identified by Transtheoretical model will be used.

Learning Objectives: At the completion of this poster session, the participant will be able to: 1. Understand the potential impact of a staged-based approach to chronic disase management. 2. Identify potential strategies to overcome barriers to adherence and effective chronic disease management. 3. Understand the potential economic benefits of effective chronic disease management

Keywords: Adherence, Behavior Modification

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: NOT APPLICABLE
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.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA