Outcomes of a church-based diabetes prevention program delivered by peers: a feasibility study.
This purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and potential health impact of a church-based diabetes prevention program delivered by peers.



Thirteen at-risk African American adults were recruited to a peer-led diabetes prevention program adapted from the National Diabetes Education Program's Power to Prevent curriculum. The program consisted of 6 core education sessions followed by 6 biweekly telephone support calls. Components of feasibility examined included recruitment, attendance, and retention. Baseline, 8-week, and 20-week assessments measured clinical outcomes (percentage body weight change, waist circumference, lipid panel, blood pressure) and lifestyle behaviors (eg, physical activity and diet).



Of the 13 participants enrolled at baseline, 11 completed the intervention. Mean attendance across 6 core sessions was 5.2 classes (87%). At 8 weeks, significant improvements were found for physical activity (P = .031), waist circumference (P = .049), serum cholesterol (P = .036), systolic blood pressure (P = .013), and fat intake (P = .006). At 20 weeks, not only did participants sustain the improvements made following the core intervention, but they also demonstrated additional improvements for HDL (P = .002) and diastolic blood pressure (P = .004).



Findings suggest that it is feasible to conduct a peer-led diabetes prevention program in a church-based setting that has a potentially positive impact on health-related outcomes.
Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia School of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Dr Tang)|Department of Medical Education, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Dr Tang, Ms Nwankwo)
Tricia S
TS
Tang
Department of Medical Education, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Dr Tang, Ms Nwankwo)
Robin
R
Nwankwo
Ann Arbor Community Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Ms Whiten)
Yolanda
Y
Whiten
Department of Personality & Social Contexts Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Dr Oney)
Christina
C
Oney
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004032:Diet; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012067:Religion; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014481:United States; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*