Hispanic chronic disease self-management: a randomized community-based outcome trial.
BACKGROUND
In light of health disparities and the growing prevalence of chronic disease, there is a need for community-based interventions that improve health behaviors and health status. These interventions should be based on existing theory.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the health and utilization outcomes of a 6-week community-based program for Spanish speakers with heart disease, lung disease, or type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
The treatment participants in this study (n = 327) took a 6-week peer-led program. At 4 months, they were compared with randomized wait-list control subjects (n = 224) using analyses of covariance. The outcomes for all the treatment participants were assessed at 1 year, as compared with baseline scores (n = 271) using t-tests.


RESULTS
At 4 months, the participants, as compared with usual-care control subjects, demonstrated improved health status, health behavior, and self-efficacy, as well as fewer emergency room visits (p <.05). At 1 year, the improvements were maintained and remained significantly different from baseline condition.


CONCLUSIONS
This community-based program has the potential to improve the lives of Hispanics with chronic illness while reducing emergency room use.
Lorig
Kate R
KR
Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, USA. lorig@stanford.edu
Ritter
Philip L
PL
González
Virginia M
VM
D002140:California; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology*; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015399:Nursing Research; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016896:Treatment Outcome