Residents of southern New Mexico have a higher prevalence of diabetes than the United States average. Latinos, especially those of Mexican-American descent, have a higher rate of the disease than Anglos. This ethnic group represents the largest portion of the patient population served by La Clinica de Familia (LCDF), a federally and state supported Community/Migrant Health Care Center in southern Dona Ana County, NM. The purpose of this study was to investigate the health status, lifestyle behaviors, stages-of-change for patients of LCDF whom are at risk for developing diabetes. Determining the percentages of study participants in the preparation and action stages(Stages-of-Change Model), was the particular focus of this investigation. It is important to know where LCDF’s potential clientele are in this regards in order to design effective health education prevention/intervention programs. To summarize some of the results, a total of 208 subjects from the two communities of Sunland Park, NM and Anthony, NM participated in the study. Findings indicated that both communities were very similar in their self-reported Health Risk Appraisal results. Also, the study found the percentages of participants who reported being in the preparation and action stages in regards to losing weight (Stages-of-Change Model). The stages-of-change was based on participants’ responses to behavioral intention items on the Health Risk Appraisal. Further research in this area is encouraged.
Learning Objectives: 1. During this presentation, presenter will outline the lifestyle behavior for La Clinica de Familia Patients in the two rural communities of Sunland Park, NM and Anthony, NM. 2. During this presentation, the presenter will discuss the health risk appraisal tool used to obtain the patient health information. 3. During the discussion, the presenter will list the percentages of study participants that were in the preparation and action stages (Stages-of-Change)
Keywords: Health Risks, Community Health Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: La Clinica de Familia, Inc
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.