title: Community Diabetes Education (CoDE) for uninsured Mexican Americans: a randomized controlled trial of a culturally tailored diabetes education and management program led by a community health worker.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the impact of a culturally tailored diabetes education program led by a community health worker (CHW) on the HbA1c, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and lipid status of uninsured Mexican Americans with diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients were recruited from a community clinic and randomized into intervention (n=90) and control (n=90) groups. Both groups received usual medical care from clinic physicians. The intervention group participated in the Community Diabetes Education (CoDE) program over 12 months. The primary outcome of interest was HbA1c. Secondary outcomes included blood pressure, BMI and lipid status. Variations in outcomes over time were assessed within groups and between groups using linear mixed-models and an intention-to-treat approach. Assessment of changes in HbA1c, blood pressure and lipid status over 12 months included variables to control for modifications made to antidiabetic, antihypertensive and lipid lowering medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in baseline characteristics between the intervention and control groups. Mean changes of HbA1c over 12 months showed a significant intervention effect (-.7%, p=.02) in the CoDE group compared with controls. HbA1c decreased significantly from baseline to 12 months within the intervention (-1.6%, p<.001) and control (-.9%, p<.001) groups. No differences between groups for secondary outcomes were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the effectiveness of CHWs as diabetes educators/case managers functioning as integral members of the health care team in community clinic settings serving uninsured Mexican Americans.
authors: University of Texas School of Public Health, 6011 Harry Hines Blvd., Suite V8.112, Dallas, TX 75390, United States. eaprezio@sbcglobal.net
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Prezio
authors: Dunlei
authors: D
authors: Cheng
authors: Bijal A
authors: BA
authors: Balasubramanian
authors: Kerem
authors: K
authors: Shuval
authors: Darla E
authors: DE
authors: Kendzor
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Culica
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human