Focus groups show need for diabetes awareness education among African Americans

Feldnian, N; Garrett, C; Olivares, A; Bruhn, C; Klenk, M; Martin, A; Brown, G; Williams, E; West, E

Focus groups show need for diabetes awareness education among African Americans

Authors

Nancy I. Feldnian
Connie L. Garrett
Anna Olivares
Christine M. Bruhn
Marciel A. Klenk
Anna Martin
Gloria R. Brown
Edwina U. Williams
Estella A. West

Publication Information

Hilgardia 56(4):139-143. DOI:10.3733/ca.v056n04p139. July 2002.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

The UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Health Promotion Workgroup assessed diabetes awareness among African Americans at risk for the disease. Workgroup members conducted focus group discussions with the target population in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties. Although obesity is considered a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, most participants cited poor dietary patterns, rather than body weight, as the most important factor in the high rate of diabetes among African Americans. Food preferences, family pressure and lack of social support were most often mentioned as obstacles to healthful dietary changes. Many felt that not enough information about diabetes was reaching the black community and voiced the need for culturally sensitive education, delivered through community-based channels.

References

Airhihenbuwa CO, Kumanika S, Agurs D, et al. Cultural aspects of African American eating patterns. Ethnicity Health. 1996. 1(3):245-60. PubMed PMID: 9395569

Anderson RM, Barr PA, Edwards GJ, et al. Using focus groups to identify psychosocial issues of urban black individuals with diabetes. Diabetes Educator. 1996. 22(1):28-33. https://doi.org/10.1177/014572179602200104 PubMed PMID: 8697953

Brancati FL, Kao LWH, Folsom AR, et al. Incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in African American and white adults. JAMA. 2000. 283(17):2253-9. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.17.2253 PubMed PMID: 10807384

Brown JB, Nichols GA, Glauber HS, Bakst AW. Type 2 diabetes: Incremental medical care costs during the first 8 years after diagnosis. Diabetes Care. 1999. 22(7):116-24. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.22.7.1116

Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. New England J Med. 2002. 346(6):393-403. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa012512

Diabetes Research Working Group. Summary of the report and recommendations of the Congressionally established Diabetes Research Working Group. 1999. www.diabetes.org/ada/drwg/drwgsummary.html

El-Kebbi M, Bacha GA, Ziemer DC, et al. Diabetes in urban African Americans V: Use of discussion groups to identify barriers to dietary therapy among low-income individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Educator. 1996. 22(5):488-92. https://doi.org/10.1177/014572179602200508 PubMed PMID: 8936127

Gaillard TR, Schuster DP, Bossetti BM, et al. Do sociodemographics and economic status predict risks for type II diabetes in African Americans?. Diabetes Educator. 1997. 23(3):294-300. https://doi.org/10.1177/014572179702300308 PubMed PMID: 9257620

Harris MI, Flegal KM, Cowe CC, et al. Prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance in U.S. adults. Diabetes Care. 1998. 21(4):518-24. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.21.4.518 PubMed PMID: 9571335

Hosey G, Gordon S, Levine A. Type 2 diabetes in people of color. Nurse Practitioner Forum. 1998. 9(2):108-14. PubMed PMID: 9752126

Jefferson VW, Melkus GD, Spollett GR. Health-promotion practices of young black women at risk for diabetes. Diabetes Educator. 2000. 26(2):295-302. PubMed PMID: 10865595

Krieger N, Sidney S. Racial discrimination and blood pressure: The CARDIA study of young black and white adults. Am J Public Health. 1996. 86(10):1370-8. PubMed PMID: 8876504

Krueger RA. Focus Groups. 1994. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publ. 255p.

Maillet NA, Melkus GD, Spollett GR. Using focus groups to characterize the health beliefs and practices of black women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetes Educator. 1996. 22(1):39-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/014572179602200106 PubMed PMID: 8697955

McNabb W, Quinn M, Tobian J. The Pathways church-based weight loss program for urban African American women at risk for diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1997. 20(10):1518-23. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.20.10.1518 PubMed PMID: 9314627

Mokdad AH, Ford ES, Bowman BA, et al. Diabetes trends in the U.S.: 1990–1998. Diabetes Care. 2000. 23(9):1278-83. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.23.9.1278 PubMed PMID: 10977060

Oexmann MJ, Thomas JC, Taylor KB, et al. Short-term impact of a church-based approach to lifestyle change on cardiovascular risk in African Americans. Ethnicity Dis. 2000. 10:17-23.

Osei K, Cottrel DA, Ezenwaka EC, et al. Serum insulin and glucose concentrations in people at risk for type II diabetes. A comparative study of African Americans and Nigerians. Diabetes Care. 1993. 16(10):1367-75.

Pi-Sunyer FX. Obesity and diabetes in blacks. Diabetes Care. 1990. 13(11):suppl 41144-9. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.13.11.1144 PubMed PMID: 2261835

Schneider D, Greenberg M, Lu L. Early life experiences linked to diabetes mellitus: A study of African American migration. J Nat Med Assoc. 1997. 89:29-34.

Schoenberg NE, Amey CH, Coward RT. Diabetes knowledge and sources of information among African American and white older women. Diabetes Educator. 1998. 24(3):319-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/014572179802400306 PubMed PMID: 9677949

Also in this issue:

Hybridization in Principal Parasitoids of Synanthropic Diptera: The Genus Muscidifurax (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

New realities for irrigated agriculture

Atrazine scrambles frog sex organs

Oral exposure to hormones “masculinizes” female finches

Cloned calf “Rosie” is rosy

Master Gardeners on page and screen

Lessons flow from Klamath Basin water crisis

Salt tolerance of landscape species evaluated

Improving pumping plant efficiency does not always save energy

Garlic in clay loam soil thrives on little irrigation

Buried drip irrigation reduces fungal disease in pistachio orchards