247668 Exploring factors associated with self- care for African American women with Type 2 Diabetes using mixed methods

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Gail C. D Young, PhD , Health Services Administration, Keiser University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jiunn-Jye Sheu, PhD, MSPH , Department of Health Education & Behavior, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
W. William Chen, PhD, CHES , Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Barbara Lutz, PhD, RN , College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Virginia J. Dodd, PhD, MPH , Dept. of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
R. Paul Duncan, PhD, MS , Department of Health Services Research, Management, & Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Diabetes, one of the leading causes of death, disproportionately affects minority Americans, some who may not understand the importance of self-care for their imminent survival. A national health care challenge is to improve self-care practices. To bridge this gap, this study aimed to explore experiences of African-American women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associate diabetes knowledge and self-care activities. This mixed method study recruited 52 African-American diabetic women aged 40-64 from North Central Florida. Among the participants surveyed by a structured questionnaire, 14 participants were individually interviewed with in-depth semi-structured questions. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Atlas ti, transcribed verbatim and examined for emergent themes. Quantitative findings showed that approximately half of the participants had higher than average knowledge about diabetes. There were significant positive correlations between diabetes knowledge and the year of education (rho=.24) and certain self-care activities, namely specific diet (r=.28) and foot care (rho=.40). Themes organized around dealing and managing T2DM with various factors influencing both. Influential factors for dealing with diabetes included perceived long-term consequences, past experiences, seminal events, level of awareness and support. Managing diabetes themes, included difficulties (concerns with treatment, lifestyle changes, personal barriers and inadequate resources) and facilitators (improved awareness, supports, past experiences, religious beliefs, and adapting new strategies for care). These findings highlight the need for future research to rein in diabetes among African American women by exploring more innovative self-care intervention options to translate diabetes knowledge into self-care practices.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe diabetes self-care knowledge and experiences for low income African American women living in urban communities in North Central Florida 2. Identify factors impacting how low income African American women living in urban communities in North Central Florida deal with a diagnosis of diabetes 3. Identify strategies and difficulties that low income African American women living in urban communities in North Central Florida face when managing their diabetes 4. Discuss implications for community improvements and policy development for low income communities

Keywords: Diabetes, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I designed and conducted the study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Diabetes Prevention & Control
See more of: Public Health Education and Health Promotion