title: Special diabetes program for Indians: retention in cardiovascular risk reduction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the associations between participant and site characteristics and retention in a multisite cardiovascular disease risk reduction project.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were derived from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians Healthy Heart Demonstration Project, an intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk among American Indians and Alaska Natives with diabetes. In 2006, a total of 1,072 participants from 30 participating sites completed baseline questionnaires measuring demographics and sociobehavioral factors. They also underwent a medical examination at baseline and were reassessed annually after baseline. A Provider Annual Questionnaire was administered to staff members of each grantee site at the end of each year to assess site characteristics. Generalized estimating equation models were used to evaluate the relationships between participant and site characteristics and retention 1 year after baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among enrolled participants, 792 (74%) completed their first annual assessment. Participants who completed the first annual assessment tended to be older and had, at baseline, higher body mass index and higher level of physical activity. Site characteristics associated with retention included average age of staff, proportion of female staff members, and percentage of staff members having completed graduate or professional school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding successful retention must reach beyond individual characteristics of participants to include features of the settings that house the interventions.
authors.affiliation: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, University of Colorado Denver, 13055 East 17th Avenue, Mail Stop F800, Aurora, CO 80045. spero.manson@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Spero M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.forename: Luohua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lijing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Janette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beals
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Acton
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Roubideaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011203:Poverty; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology