256414 Improving Diabetes Management in African Americans using Community Health Centers

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Kushal Patel, PhD , Department of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
     
The primary purpose of this study is to improve optimal diabetes management of low-income African Americans served by the Southside/Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers in Chattanooga, Tennessee and in the surrounding community. The objectives are to: 1) Improve self-management among study participants and 2) Improve lifestyle behaviors among study participants.

The Chronic Care Model (CCM) and the Transtheoretical Stages of Change Model form the conceptual framework for this study. The CCM draws on the best from research and practice to provide an underpinning for research aimed at improving diabetes-related care and management. The elements included in the CCM that are essential for healthcare systems in encouraging high quality chronic disease care include the community, the health system, self management support, delivery system design, decision support, and clinical information systems.

The study consist of 350 low-income African Americans, 18, years or older, residing in Hamilton County/Chattanooga, Tennessee. The intervention utilizes five education sessions designed to improve participants' metabolic control through their engagement in targeted behaviors, 1) physical activity, 2) compliance and treatment, and 3) Dietary behavior modification.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Assess the lifestyle behaviors that improve diabetes management among low income African Americans. Identify the lifestyle behaviors that interfere with diabetes management for low income African Americans.

Keywords: Diabetes, Managing Risks

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a doctoriate in Clinical Psychology and I have done a fellowship in behavioral medicine. Currently I am doing public health research at Meharry Medical College in prevention and control of chronic diseases and I have published extensively in this area. Among my many areas of interest is the development of strategies to increase successful management of chronic disease among underserved populations.
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.

Back to: 5041.0: Invited Session - Innovative Prevention Strategies that Impact the Health & Wellbeing of African American & Hispanic Communities Across the Lifespan: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-Funded Research