Understanding the role of the promotora in a Latino diabetes education program.
We explore the role of the promotora de salud (health promoter) who provided diabetes self-management education to Puerto Rican diabetics in her community. The education program was developed as a hospital and community-based organization partnership. Information from both Spanish-language focus groups with 35 class participants and an in-depth interview with the promotora indicated patients appreciated having the classes taught in Spanish by a Latina promotora from their community. Respondents reported satisfaction with the program, increased ability to self-manage diabetes, and strengthened connections with other Latino diabetics. Terms patients used for the promotora included comadre, hijita, and buena profesora. Some of these words denote almost kinship-level connections, suggesting that patients were forming strong connections with the promotora. Specific promotora roles were identified but varied among patients, promotora, and the literature. This hospital and community-based organization partnership promotora model appears to be effective for providing chronic disease self-management education in an urban community setting.
Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18105, USA. lynn.deitrick@lvh.com
Lynn M
LM
Deitrick
Hannah D
HD
Paxton
Alicia
A
Rivera
Eric J
EJ
Gertner
Nyann
N
Biery
Abby S
AS
Letcher
Lissette M
LM
Lahoz
Edgardo
E
Maldonado
Debbie
D
Salas-Lopez
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003150:Community Health Workers; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012648:Self Care; D000078329:Workforce