Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to physical activity among Native Americans with diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Native Americans (NA) have higher diabetes morbidity and mortality compared to other ethnic groups. Although exercise plays an important role in diabetes management, little is known about exercise among Native Americans with diabetes. Our goal was to describe knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to exercise in Native American participants in New Mexico.


METHODS
Bilingual community members administered a questionnaire to assess knowledge, stage of change (a measure of exercise readiness), and physical activity behavior. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was measured by DCA 2000 analyzer. Height and weight were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). Average random blood glucose (RBS) levels and diabetes duration were assessed through chart audit.


METHODS
Questionnaires were completed in offices in or near the communities.


METHODS
514 Native Americans with diabetes were identified as potential participants, 40% (142 women, 64 men) participated.


RESULTS
37% of participants knew exercise lowers blood sugar. 82% reported they were in the preparation, action, or maintenance stage of change for exercise behavior. Seventy seven percent of this population did not meet the Surgeon General's recommendation for accumulating 30 minutes of leisure time endurance exercise on most days of the week. However, 67% of participants fell within the "high activity" category for all moderate and vigorous activities. Average age, BMI and HbA1c were 58.5 yrs., 30.5 kg/m2, 8.6%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions to increase physical activity awareness and participation could improve diabetes management and overall health for Native Americans. When evaluating physical activity, researchers need to consider usual activities of daily living and leisure time activities specific to that population. Failure to do so would be ethnocentric and could lead to inappropriate conclusions.
Stolarczyk
L M
LM
Center for Exercise and Applied Human Physiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA.
Gilliland
S S
SS
Lium
D J
DJ
Owen
C L
CL
Perez
G E
GE
Kriska
A M
AM
Ainsworth
B E
BE
Carter
J S
JS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009516:New Mexico; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin