title: Assessing knowledge and attitudes of diabetes in Zuni Indians using a culture-centered approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Zuni Pueblo, in collaboration with the University of New Mexico, have formed the Zuni Health Initiative (ZHI) engaged in community-based participatory research to plan and implement educational interventions to reduce health disparities. We conducted the first phase of ZHI study and identified barriers to healthcare. We concluded that the burden presented by these barriers ultimately translates into a lack of patient activation and engagement in their health care including for diabetes, effectively hindering adoption of healthy behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community health representatives (CHRs) led 10 one-hour focus group sessions to elicit information on diabetes knowledge and self-management strategies at which a total of 84 people participated. Audiotapes were translated and transcribed by bilingual ZHI staff. We reduced the text to thematic categories, constructed a coding dictionary and inserted the text into NVivo 9 program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The focus groups revealed that despite extensive personal or family experiences with diabetes or complications, participants identified knowledge gaps in the disease progression and disease management. However, we gained insight into how many Zunis conceptualize the etiology of diabetes, risk factors associated with diabetes, sources of knowledge and self-management practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that many of the Zuni diabetics experience significant impacts on their life when they were diagnosed with diabetes and suffered the plight of stigmatization. We further concluded that developing Zuni culture specific diabetes care should focus on family involvement with continued education.
authors.affiliation: Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Donica M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ghahate
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bobelu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sandy
authors.affiliation: Indian Health Services Comprehensive Center in Zuni Pueblo, Zuni, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Vallabh O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003469:Culture; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult