A pilot diabetes awareness and exercise programme in a multiethnic workforce.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the acceptability and impact of a pilot diabetes awareness and exercise programme in a mainly Polynesian workforce.


METHODS
Comparison of change in questionnaire and anthropometric measurements in two hospital ancillary workforces. One group (n = 108) received one community diabetes educator presentation, one video presentation and a 4 month exercise programme. The other group (n = 99) served as controls.


RESULTS
Baseline diabetes knowledge was poor (total score 26 (SD 13%)) and subjects were largely unfit with a high body mass index (31.5 (7.1) kg/m2). The exercise sessions were well attended, although attendance declined over the 4 months. Increased diabetes knowledge was retained in the intervention group after 6 months when compared with controls (total score 35(14)% vs 26(12)% respectively, p < 0.001). One month after the termination of the programme, the proportion reporting regular exercise activity (at least 30 minutes for 3 days per week) had increased by 2% in the intervention group but declined by 9% in the control group (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes knowledge and exercise can be increased in unfit subjects by the combination of culturally tailored exercise techniques and community diabetes educator/video presentations.
University of Auckland, South Auckland Academic Division, School of Medicine, Middlemore Hospital.
D
D
Simmons
C
C
Fleming
M
M
Cameron
L
L
Leakehe
D000328:Adult; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011114:Polynesia / Q000208:ethnology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires