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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jeffrey C. Fultz, DC, PT, OCS, Health Promotion Program, Northern Navajo Medical Center, West Wing, North Highway 491, Shiprock, NM 87420, 505 368-6306, jeffrey.fultz@ihs.gov

In October 2002 Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS) initiated diabetes prevention interventions based upon the lifestyle behavior objectives from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). DPP was a long-term prospective study demonstrating the efficacy of moderate lifestyle behavior change in preventing and/or delaying the onset of diabetes in groups at high-risk. Goals of DPP are 7% decrease in body weight and performing 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week (i.e. brisk walking). This landmark study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in February 2002.

NAIHS developed a Native Lifestyle Balance program (NLB) based upon the DPP. This program consists of 16 one-hour session lifestyle modification curricula taught in a group format over the course of 20-24 weeks. Motivational coaching support is a key element for NLB. This program is a collaborative effort between Health Promotion Program staff, Rehabilitation Services Therapists, Nutritionists, Diabetes Educators and Physicians. Each of the eight service units within Navajo Area has developed teams of varying composition to provide NLB programs. Program goals and methods are the same as those described in the DPP study.

Despite its proven efficacy, to date, NLB programs on the Navajo Nation have only reached approximately 300 hundred individuals. These lifestyle behavior change efforts need to be expanded on the Navajo Nation to improve access for tens of thousands who are at high-risk for developing diabetes. Additional resources are necessary for this diabetes prevention intervention to be implemented on a much broader scale.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the demographics of the population of the Navajo Nation.
• Describe the epidemiology of diabetes on the Navajo Nation.
• Articulate the goals of the Native Lifestyle Balance (NLB) program.
• Identify the primary strategies utilized to facilitate adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors for participants in the NLB program.
• Recognize the challenges associated with initiating community-based behavior change interventions directed at preventing diabetes.

Keywords: Community Preventive Services, Community Preventive Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered