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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Marylyn Morris McEwen, PhD, APRN, BC, College of Nursing, The University of Arizona, 1305 N. Martin, PO Box 210203, Tucson, AZ 85721-0203, 520-626-6926, mmcewen@nursing.arizona.edu

Promotoras are integral members of the research team when planning and conducting culturally relevant research aimed at reducing diabetes health disparities in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Reducing diabetes health disparities is a binational priority. Persons of Mexican origin in the border region suffer a disproportionate diabetes burden because of a greater number of risk factors, greater incidence of complications, high rates of poverty, low literacy, and barriers to accessing health care services. Engaging in self-management activities that contribute to glycemic control has been challenging for this population and culturally relevant interventions intended to increase their diabetes self-management skills have been marginally effective. The goal of this study was to pilot test the feasibility of providing a theoretically driven community-based diabetes education and social support intervention delivered by promotoras, in consultation with a certified diabetes nurse education, to women of Mexican origin with type 2 diabetes. The specific study aim related to promotora training will address issues related to recruitment, training, roles, and responsibilities of promotoras as member of this research team. Factors that facilitated and obstructed the development and conduct of the study (e.g. developing rival hypotheses and human subjects' issues) as well as other lessons learned will be illuminated. Findings from this study will be used to inform the development of a larger, multi-site investigation for enhancing diabetes self-management capacity for persons of Mexican origin with type 2 diabetes.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this presentation, the learner will be able to

• Articulate the multiple and diverse roles that promotoras may assume on the research team.
• Identify at least two strategies for overcoming promotora research training obstacles.
• Discuss at least three contributions promotoras can make to constructing and delivering culturally relevant community-based interventions aimed at reducing health disparities for persons of Mexican origin who reside in the Arizona-Sonora border region.

Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Community Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation