title: Assessing the need for diabetes self-management education in the Oklahoma city vietnamese community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the diabetes self-management educational (DSME) needs of the Vietnamese diabetic population in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in this explorative study included 50 Vietnamese adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes recruited from the offices of four primary care physicians in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Participants completed a culturally sensitive survey focused on their diabetes history, knowledge and need of DSME, and health beliefs. Responses were evaluated using means and frequency analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of participants was 62.7±9.1 years. Over 80% of participants were most comfortable speaking and reading Vietnamese, and 62% had never received a high school diploma. Less than 50% of participants reported ever receiving education regarding diabetic complications, nutrition, desirable glycated hemoglobin values, diabetic medications, daily self-care, risk of smoking, or cardiovascular risk associated with diabetes. More than 80% of participants requested more education in all areas of DSME except smoking risk in diabetes, with all participants requesting delivery of this education in Vietnamese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DSME is needed and desired in the Vietnamese community of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Education should be provided in the Vietnamese language with most targeted to lower literacy levels. Vietnamese diabetes educators should facilitate increased access to DSME knowledge and skills in efforts to improve glycemic control and overall health status for this community.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Clinical and Administrative Sciences, University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy, 1110 N. Stonewall Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, USA, teresa-truong@ouhsc.edu.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Truong
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Britton
authors: Donald
authors: D
authors: Harrison
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Letassy
authors: Becky
authors: B
authors: Armor
authors: Darryl
authors: D
authors: Tonemah
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Nguyen