 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Nia Aitaoto, MPH and Rie Kuhaulua, MPH. Pacific Diabetes Today Resource Center, Papa Ola Lokahi, 894 Queen Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, (808) 597-6555, naitaoto@hotmail.com
Diabetes is a growing epidemic that disproportionately affects minority populations including Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. There is a need for an approach to organize groups to plan, implement, and evaluate activities in local communities for the prevention and control of diabetes. The Pacific Diabetes Today (PDT) is a training program, funded by the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention. The program targets communities in Hawai`i and the U.S.-related Pacific Jurisdictions. The PDT is designed to provide community members with basic knowledge and skills to plan and implement community-based diabetes prevention and control activities. The outcome of the training is a community diabetes program plan submitted to PDT within one year of the training. The PDT program provided funds and technical assistance to guide the implementation of the diabetes program plan. Between 1998 and 2002, the PDT program has provided training and technical assistance to eleven communities in Hawai`i and the Pacific Jurisdictions. We learned that one size does not fit all; aim for involvement and commitment at multiple levels; use existing community groups and networks; face to face visits for establishing relationships; ownership depends on community members working closely with staff; buddy system training (PDT staff and community co-facilitator) is important to strengthen capacity within communities. The PDT program needs to continue to provide culturally appropriate training; the PDT program needs to work in collaboration with the Health Department’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs; community-based diabetes programs need to be integrated into the larger infrastructure of diabetes prevention and control.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Native and Indigenous Populations, Community Planning
Related Web page: www.pdtrc.org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Papa Ola Lokahi
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.