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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Aida L. Giachello, PhD¹, Amparo Castillo, MD², Jose O. Arrom, MA¹, Robin Bates, PhD², Chang-Ming Hsieh, PhD², and Carlos Sanchez, MD². (1) Midwest Latino Health Research, Training, and Policy Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 W. Roosevelt Rd. 636, Chicago, IL 60608, (2) Jane Addams College of Social Work, Midwest Latino Health Research Training and Policy Center, 1640 West Roosevelt Road - Suite 636, Chicago, IL 60608, 312-413-9490, amparo@uic.edu

Self-management education is recommended as part of a holistic approach to diabetes management. Empowerment theory has been implemented to address low levels of self-care, poor control and emotional issues in adult education at clinical and community settings. The authors assess the effectiveness of an educational program in affecting self-care behaviors and clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes. Diabetes Empowerment Education Program is a behavioral self-management intervention program used to educate African Americans and Latinos in Southeast Chicago. The 10-week curriculum is carried out in 2 hour-weekly sessions using participatory techniques based on empowerment theory. DEEP uses a culturally competent educational curriculum targeting knowledge of diabetes and its risk factors, nutrition, physical activity, self-management, and psychosocial issues. DEEP is delivered in Spanish or English by community health workers partnering with the REACH 2010 Chicago Southeast Diabetes Community Action Coalition. Residents from Southeast Chicago diagnosed with diabetes are being recruited at a community clinic between the spring and the fall of 2006. Pre- and post-test data are gathered and analyzed to assess the impact on participant knowledge, self-efficacy, depression and quality of life, and clinical outcomes. Previous results in a community setting showed significant increase in diabetes self-care knowledge (p < 0.001), and significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels ( p < 0.05) in 142 participants. This preliminary evidence of the positive effects of DEEP may infer effectiveness for improving self-care and clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with diabetes at a community clinic.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify main aspects of empowerment theory applied to adult diabetes education.
• Assess effectiveness of an empowerment education program in changing clinical and behavioral markers of diabetes.

Keywords: Diabetes, Health Education Strategies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered