261392 Promotores(as) as key community prevention and wellness providers: Evidence from DiabetesSalud!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 3:10 PM - 3:30 PM

Elizabeth Trevino-Dawson, DrPH , School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
Jose Pagan, PhD , School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
Erin Carlson, DrPH , School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
Jordan Eaton, MMFT, DrPH Student , School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
Sangeeta Shenoy, MPH Student , School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
     
Type 2 diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease in the US, and the burden of illness falls disproportionately on ethnic/racial minorities. While new medications and treatment protocols promise healthier lives for those with diabetes, many adults do not know how to manage diabetes effectively because they have limited access to culturally appropriate disease management resources. DiabetesSalud! is an innovative diabetes management program housed at the only Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC) in Tarrant County, Texas. DiabetesSalud! relies on the skills of a certified community health worker, a diabetes health promoter (DHP), to provide diabetes self-management and nutritional counseling during monthly and quarterly case-management sessions. Preliminary data from 64 program participants suggest that DiabetesSalud! has been highly successful in improving relevant outcomes such as reducing HbA1c and body weight, increasing physical activity, and health-related quality of life. Challenges encountered include appointment adherence due to work and transportation schedules. Preliminary results on the cost-effectiveness of the program—estimated using the Archimedes mathematical simulation model of human physiology, disease progression and health care utilization—suggest that the program is highly cost-effective compared to usual care in terms of reducing HbA1c levels below recommended thresholds. The experience of DiabetesSalud! suggests that diabetes management programs anchored by DHPs have the potential to not only improve health outcomes and quality of life among Hispanic populations but they also may be able to achieve their goals in a cost-effective manner if they are designed to be culturally sensitive to the needs of the local population.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
Identify an effective and innovative diabetes self-management program led by a promotor. Describe the benefits of utilizing a promotor for diabetes self-management among Hispanic populations. Explain the benefits and challenges of implementing a community-based diabetes self-management program utilizing evidence based practices. Assess the cost-effectiveness of diabetes management programs using a chronic disease progression models.

Keywords: Diabetes, Community Health Promoters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have experience implementing grants focused on promotores-based interventions.
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.

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