Social Support Groups in the Maintenance of Glycemic Control after Community-Based Intervention
Author(s)
Claire Townsend Ing, Guangxing Zhang, Adrienne Dillard, Sheryl R. Yoshimura, Claire Hughes, Donna-Marie Palakiko, Bridget Puni Kehauoha, Ka‘imi A. Sinclair, and Joseph Keawe‘aimoku Kaholokula1
Publication
Journal of Diabetes Research
Abstract
Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NH/PI; e.g., Samoan and Chuukese) have higher type 2 diabetes prevalence compared to other groups in Hawai‘i. Partners in Care (PIC), a culturally tailored, community-based, diabetes self-management education intervention (DSME), is effective at improving participants’ glycemic control and self care behaviors.Maintenance of improvements is challenging. Diabetes related social support groups (SSG) are a promising maintenance component for DSME. This study examined the effects of a diabetes specific SSG component relative to a control group, after the receipt of the 3-month PIC intervention,whichwas delivered to 47 adult NH/PI with type 2 diabetes. Participantswere then randomized to either a 3-month, 6- session SSG or a control group. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, and diabetes self-management knowledge and behaviors were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Results indicated significant improvements in HbA1c, diabetes-related self management knowledge, and behaviors frombaseline to 3-month assessment.However, no differences between the SSG and control group from3-month to 6-month assessment suggest that all participants were able tomaintain initial improvements.The SSG group had a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure from3-month to 6-month assessment while the control group did not. Study limitations and future directions are discussed.
