Feasibility of a health promotion intervention for a group of predominantly African American women with type 2 diabetes.
This feasibility study was undertaken to determine if a group of predominantly low-income, low-education, African American women with type 2 diabetes could achieve good compliance and improved health outcomes with a carefully structured health promotion intervention.



The sample consisted of 30 participants from an urban setting who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but also had multiple chronic conditions (e.g., obesity, hypertension, joint pain, and depression). Participants attended a university-based health promotion program where they completed a 12-week intervention that addressed diet, nutrition, and health behavior. Transportation was provided at no cost to the participants.



Compliance with the 12-week program was 72.5%. Participants made significant improvements in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, and nutrition knowledge.



African American women with type 2 diabetes residing in difficult living environments (i.e., poverty, high crime, and lack of family support) can achieve good compliance and health outcomes with a structured health promotion program provided that barriers to participation (e.g., transportation, cost, and commitment) are removed prior to and during the intervention.
Rimmer
James H
JH
Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago
Silverman
Katie
K
Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago
Braunschweig
Carol
C
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago
Quinn
Laurie
L
Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago
Liu
Yang
Y
Department of Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D002641:Chicago; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004522:Educational Status; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014504:Urban Health; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*