Culturally tailored education to promote lifestyle change in Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to report the results of a culturally tailored diabetes intervention for Mexican Americans on physical activity and to report the results of a focus group with intervention participants. DATA SOURCES: Seventeen Mexican American subjects with type 2 diabetes participated in the study. The study used a pretest/posttest control group design with 10 subjects in each group (N = 20). Outcome measures included the number of steps walked weekly, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Pedometers were used to measure the daily number of steps in the intervention group. A focus group provided data on participant satisfaction.
CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a positive effect of the intervention on physical activity level, weight, and sense of control over diabetes self-management. Intervention participants had a statistically significant increase in the number of steps walked per day and a statistically significant mean weight loss of five pounds. Focus group results indicate that participants were satisfied with the culturally tailored intervention and that they and their families benefited from the intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A culturally tailored diabetes self-management program may result in improved outcomes for Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes