title: A family-based diabetes intervention for Hispanic adults and their family members.
abstract: The purpose of this quasi-experimental, 1-group longitudinal study is to examine the effects of a family-based intervention program on diabetes self-management behaviors, A1C, other biomarkers, psychosocial factors, and health-related quality of life in Hispanics with diabetes.
  
  
  
  Adult patients with diabetes (n = 36) and family members (n = 37) were recruited from a community clinic in rural central North Carolina. Patients and family members attended an 8-week culturally tailored diabetes educational program taught in Spanish. Data were collected pre- and post-intervention for both patients and family members, with an additional data collection for patients 1 month post-intervention.
  
  
  
  Most patients and family members were female, and almost all were immigrants. A1C decreased by 4.9% on average among patients from pre-intervention to 1 month post-intervention. Patients showed significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, diabetes self-efficacy, diabetes knowledge, and physical and mental components of health-related quality of life. Higher levels of intake of healthy foods and performance of blood glucose tests and foot inspections were reported. Family members significantly lowered body mass index and improved diabetes knowledge from pre-intervention to immediately post-intervention. No significant changes in levels of physical activity were found among patients with diabetes or family members.
  
  
  
  Findings suggest that including family members in educational interventions may provide emotional and psychological support to patients with diabetes, help to develop healthy family behaviors, and promote diabetes self-management.
authors.affiliation: the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Debra C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.affiliation: the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Amirehsani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol