"Brother Feed Your Soul": Using CAM, Diet, and Physical Activity Education to Promote Disease Managment in Black Men

Black men are disproportionately at risk for a number of chronic diseases including hypertension and diabetes. Diet and physical activity are major components of managing these conditions. Previous studies indicate that limited access to care, racial discrimination, medical mistrust, and cultural norms discourage health seeking behaviors among Black men. Evidence suggests that use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may help alleviate the chronic disease burden in this population. While a number of studies have reported high CAM use among blacks, few have focused on the use of CAM in promoting disease management in Black men. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the use of CAM, specifically Qigong, dietary counseling, and physical activity on blood pressure and hemoglobin a1c in Black men participating in Project Brotherhood, a culturally-gender specific health program. Twenty Black men with hypertension and/or diabetes were recruited for participation in the study. Men participated in a series of classes focused on stress and disease management, healthy eating, and exercise. Because of the elevated disease burden, more work is needed to provide insights about effective health promotion approaches to encourage disease management and improve the health of Black men.