Impact of a culturally oriented low health literacy education in diabetes related knowledge and self-care behaviors in Hispanics with diabetes

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an educational diabetes intervention to enhance knowledge and modify attitudes, self-care practices, and service utilization among Spanish-speaking Hispanics with type 2 diabetes. The ultimate goal of the project is to contribute to finding solutions to the disease burden that Hispanics with diabetes mellitus experience. The study is a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of La Historia de Rosa, an educational tool specifically designed for Spanish-speaking low health literacy diabetes patients. Participants (n=400) will be randomized into four groups: 1) Standard educational intervention in a community setting; 2) Standard educational intervention plus health literacy component using La Historia de Rosa in a community setting; 3) standard educational intervention in a clinical setting- group approach; 4) Standard educational intervention plus health literacy component using La Historia Rosa in a clinical setting. The educational intervention is an educational tool specifically designed for Spanish-speaking low health literacy diabetes patients. La Historia Rosa consists of three audio-CDs in Spanish with an accompanying booklet and a provider manual to educate patients and their families about basic aspects of diabetes, prevention and management. Participants' knowledge and experiences with diabetes will be assessed at baseline, at three months after joining the educational intervention, and six-month post-exposure to educational intervention. Lessons learned and policy implications will be discussed.