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Diabetes Patient Education in a Mexican-American Community

An Effective Practice

Description

In a rural Texas-Mexico border community, subjects with diabetes were randomly selected to participate in a diabetes patient education and group-support intervention that was directed by a Mexican-American clinical nurse specialist (CNS), dietitian, and community worker. Each participant had a family member serve as a support person. The intervention involved 8 weeks of educational sessions with instruction on nutrition, blood glucose self-monitoring, exercise, and other diabetes self-management topics, and provided group support. Group discussion was facilitated using a series of Spanish-language videotapes that had been developed and previously tested in the target Mexican-American community.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this promising practice was to provide Mexican-Americans with the knowledge, skills, and support to improve general health measures and manage their diabetes.

Results / Accomplishments

Results suggested statistically significant improvements in diabetes knowledge, fasting blood sugar levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels (p=0.05).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Texas- Houston Health Science Center
Primary Contact
Dr. Sharon Brown
The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing
1700 Red River Street
Austin, TX 78701-1499
512 232-4710
sabrown@mail.utexas.edu
http://www.utexas.edu/nursing/fachome/html/browns/
Topics
Health / Diabetes
Organization(s)
University of Texas- Houston Health Science Center
Source
The Diabetes Educator
Date of publication
1995
Location
Starr County, TX
For more details
Target Audience
Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Additional Audience
Mexican-Americans