Families United/Familias Unidas: family group office visits to reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
The purpose of the Families United/Familias Unidas study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of group office visits on reducing diabetes risk in a multiethnic, primary care population.



Adults, ages 18 to 70 years, with any diabetes risk factor were recruited to attend 12 group office visits over 6 months. Each participant identified 1 support person, age 14 to 70 years, to accompany them. Data were collected at baseline, postintervention, 6 months, and 12 months. Primary outcome measures were reduction in the total number of predefined, modifiable risk factors (ie, body mass index ≥25 kg/m(2); waist circumference ≥88 cm [women], ≥102 cm [men]; blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg; hemoglobin A1C ≥5.7%; fasting insulin ≥15 µU/mL; glycemic index ≥52.5% [women], ≥53.4% [men]; and physical activity <150 min/wk).



Thirty-nine participants/supporters completed the intervention (mean age 47.8 ± 12.3 years, 69.2% female, 61.5% white, 35.9% Latino). Risk reduction analysis included only participants/supporters who remained paired at the intervention's end (n = 36). At baseline, primary participants (n = 18) had an average of 4.8 ± 1.6 (standard error) predefined risk factors; supporters (n = 18), 4.1 ± 1.4. Primary participants' risk factors decreased approximately 15% immediately after the 6-month intervention (absolute reduction of 1.1 risk factors) and increased to ~20% reduction 1 year postintervention (absolute reduction of 1.4 risk factors). Risk reduction was primarily due to decreases in dietary glycemic index and fasting insulin levels.



Group visits provide an innovative and potentially efficacious model of diabetes prevention in multiethnic patients with heterogeneous risk factors.
The Department of Family and Community Medicine, Arizona Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Randa M
RM
Kutob
The Department of Family and Community Medicine, Arizona Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Violet Perez
VP
Siwik
The Department of Family and Community Medicine, Arizona Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Mikel
M
Aickin
The Department of Family and Community Medicine, Arizona Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Cheryl
C
Ritenbaugh
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise; D005192:Family Health; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human