Characteristics of successful interventions included using problem solving with the patient , culturally tailoring the intervention , and using a nurse educator .
OBJECTIVE The use of behavioral interventions has been shown to improve glycemic control , however , the effectiveness of different behavioral interventions in one of the most high risk population s , African Americans , remains unclear .
Our systematic review identified and examined findings of published behavioral interventions targeted at African Americans to improve glycemic control .
The goal of our study was to distinguish which interventions were effective and identify areas for future research .
Self-management support in "real-world" settings: an empowerment-based intervention.
OBJECTIVE This study examined the impact of a 6-month , empowerment-based diabetes self-management support ( DSMS ) intervention on clinical outcomes , self-care behaviors , and quality of life ( QOL ) compared to a 6-month control period . METHODS This control-intervention cohort study recruited 77 African-American adults with type 2 diabetes . Baseline , 6-month , and 12-month assessment s measured A1C , weight , body mass index ( BMI ) , blood pressure , lipids , self-care behaviors , and QOL . During the control period , participants received weekly educational newsletters . During the intervention period , participants attended weekly DSMS groups as frequently as they needed . Sessions were guided by participants ' self-management questions and concerns , and also emphasized experiential learning , coping , problem-solving , and goal - setting . RESULTS The control period found significant improvements for diastolic BP ( p<0.05 ) , serum cholesterol ( p<0.001 ) , following a healthy diet ( p<0.01 ) , and monitoring blood glucose ( p<0.01 ) . The intervention period found significant additional improvements for A1C ( p<0.001 ) , weight ( p<0.05 ) , BMI ( p<0.05 ) , and LDL ( p<0.001 ) . Compared to the control period , participation in the intervention led to a significant reduction in A1C ( p<0.01 ) . CONCLUSION Findings suggest that an empowerment-based , DSMS intervention is promising for improving and /or maintaining diabetes-related health , particularly A1C . PRACTICAL IMPLICATION S Incorporating empowerment principles in DSMS interventions may be useful for supporting patients ' self-management efforts in " real-world " setting
Characteristics of successful interventions included using problem solving with the patient , culturally tailoring the intervention , and using a nurse educator .
OBJECTIVE The use of behavioral interventions has been shown to improve glycemic control , however , the effectiveness of different behavioral interventions in one of the most high risk population s , African Americans , remains unclear .
Our systematic review identified and examined findings of published behavioral interventions targeted at African Americans to improve glycemic control .
The goal of our study was to distinguish which interventions were effective and identify areas for future research .