Abstract

The aim of this intervention was to determine whether diabetes self-management education will help Hispanics/Latinos with type 2 diabetes mellitus change unhealthy behaviors and effectively manage their disease. Healthcare free clinics serve a large majority of Hispanic/Latino patients who could benefit from a formalized diabetes education program. A 5-week bilingual program was provided to 10 of 80 Hispanic/Latino patients with diabetes identified in a search through the electronic medical records of a free clinic in Connecticut. From 80 patients interviewed by telephone, 20 expressed interest in participating, of which 10 completed the program. Patients were given pre- and post-tests using the revised Diabetes Knowledge Test and the Diabetes Empowerment Scale-Short Form. The transtheoretical model was applied to assess the patient's readiness for change. Hemoglobin A1c levels, obtained at baseline and at 12 weeks, decreased from 6.89 at baseline to 6.64 at 12 weeks, with average mean .25% reduction. Over the 5 weeks, average weight decreased from 179.1 lb to 176.9 lb; all patients except one maintained or lost weight, for an average 2.2-lb weight loss. Blood pressure readings at 5 weeks had decreased in 70% of patients. In creating an environment where patients receive culturally enhanced comprehensive health care services, the goal of improving health outcomes can be achieved. Because the intervention was small with only 10 participants and of short duration, the results should be replicated with a larger group and for a longer period.

Author Details

Juanita Castillo, DNP, MSN, RN, CDE

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Bilingual Diabetes Self-Management, Hispanic Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Advisor

John Schmidt

Second Advisor

Rosemary Haggins

Third Advisor

Karen Gottlieb

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Capella University

Degree Year

2017

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2017-11-27

Full Text of Presentation

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