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

Abstract #109294

Lee Losey, MPH¹, Aida L. Giachello, PhD¹, Ada Y. Caranton¹, Olivia Hernandez², Amparo Castillo Richmond, MD³, Margaret A. Davis, RN, MSN, FNP⁴, and Giovana Velazquez, BS³. (1) Midwest Latino Health Research, Training and Policy Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 West Roosevelt Rd 636, Chicago, IL 60608, 312-355-4751, llosey1@uic.edu, (2) Centro Juan Diego, 8812 S. Commercial Ave., Chicago, IL 60617, (3) Midwest Latino Health Research Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 W. Roosevelt Rd., Suite 636, Chicago, IL 60608, (4) Health Consortium of Illinios, 1350 E. Sibley, Dolton, IL 60419

Objective: To translate evaluation data on the Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) into improved community education targeting Latinos and African Americans with diabetes or at risk for diabetes using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) model. Methods: DEEP is a 10-session diabetes self-management course using participatory education methods. Pre-, post, and follow-up-intervention data on knowledge, practices and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed for participants who completed the 10-week course to measure the program's ability to prevent diabetes and improve diabetes outcomes. Evaluation findings and results of weekly course observations were shared with facilitators and program staff to encourage continual improvements in course implementation. The Midwest Latino Health Research, Training and Policy Center of the University of Illinois at Chicago's Jane Adams School of Social Work, developed the DEEP curriculum as a diabetes self management tool, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Chicago Southeast Diabetes Community Action Coalition through a CDC REACH 2010 grant. Results: Pre- and post-intervention data documented significant improvement in diabetes self-care knowledge, diet, and self-care monitoring, moderate improvements in physical activity, and slight decreases in weight and Hemogloblin A1C levels. Observations identified ways to improve course implementation. Facilitators and project staff used this data to enhance the focus on behavior change, increasing physical activity, and improving participatory education methods. The success of the program in community self-care centers prompted the integration of diabetes health education using community health workers into local hospitals, schools, and churches in Southeast Chicago between February 2003 and July 2005.

Learning Objectives:

• •Describe the process of translating research data into improved community diabetes education.
• •Identify the steps in conducting pre-, post-, and follow-up data collection and observations for the purpose of evaluation.
• •Describe the impact of the Diabetes Empowerment Education Program on community members who took the course.

Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Diabetes

Related Web page: www.uic.edu/jaddams/scdcac.html

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.