Online Program

285566
Results of an intervention to promote diabetes prevention among New York City Koreans using a community health worker model


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Jennifer Zanowiak, MA, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Laura Wyatt, MPH, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Kay Chun, MD, Public Health and Research Center, Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Inc., New York, NY
Christina Choi, Public Health and Research Center, Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Inc., New York, NY
Hyunjae Yim, Public Health and Research Center, Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Inc., New York, NY
Smiti B. Kapadia, MPH, Health Promotion and Prevention Research Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
Simona Kwon, DrPH, MPH, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Chau-Trinh Shevrin, DrPH, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Mariano Rey, MD, Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Nadia Islam, PhD, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Background: Asian Americans have higher rates of diabetes than Non-Hispanic Whites. However, there are limited studies on Asian subgroups and few community-based, culturally-tailored interventions to promote diabetes prevention for Korean Americans. Objective: To examine the impact of a community health worker (CHW) diabetes prevention intervention in the Korean community. Methods: Between 2011 and 2013, three rounds of a culturally-tailored diabetes prevention intervention were implemented in a New York City (NYC) Korean community. Participants were randomized to treatment and control groups. The treatment group received 6 educational workshops led by trained CHWs on diabetes prevention and related topics, and 10 follow-up phone calls. Baseline and follow-up surveys were administered to capture diabetes knowledge, behavioral change, and clinical outcomes; analyses were conducted using chi-square tests for categorical variables and repeated measures ANOVA for continuous variables. Results: Preliminary analysis from the first round (n=35) showed modest, non-significant reductions in weight, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and systolic blood pressure for the treatment group. The control group saw little to no change in clinical measurements. Preliminary analysis of the first two rounds (n=73) found increases in recommended physical activity in the treatment group (p<0.01), while the control group saw a decrease. Treatment and control group individuals showed an increase in knowing what exercises are healthy, though changes were only significant in the treatment group (p<0.05). The treatment group also demonstrated non-significant improvements in mental health, nutritional behaviors, and diabetes knowledge. Complete data on three rounds of the intervention will be presented. Conclusions: Preliminary results from this intervention suggest that a CHW program may be effective in promoting diabetes prevention among the NYC Korean population.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the steps taken in the development and implementation of a community-specific and culturally-tailored diabetes prevention intervention. Identify clinical and behavioral changes between baseline and endpoint for each group. Discuss how program evaluation results, challenges, and lessons learned from a pilot study can inform the implementation of the next phase of the intervention.

Keyword(s): Asian Americans, Community-Based Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Research Coordinator for Project RICE, a community health worker-led diabetes prevention intervention in the South Asian and Korean communities in NYC.
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.