title: Peer-supported diabetes prevention program for Turkish- and arabic-speaking communities in australia.
abstract: In Australia, type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are more prevalent in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities than mainstream Australians. Purpose. To develop, implement, and evaluate culturally sensitive peer-supported diabetes education program for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in high-risk middle-aged Turkish- and Arabic-speaking people. Methods. A two-day training program was developed. Ten bilingual peer leaders were recruited from existing health and social networks in Melbourne and were trained by diabetes educators. Each leader recruited 10 high-risk people for developing diabetes. Questionnaires were administered, and height, weight, and waist circumference were measured at baseline and three months after the intervention. The intervention comprised two 2-hour group sessions and 30 minutes reinforcement and support telephone calls. Results. 94 individuals (73% women) completed the program. Three months after the program, the participants' mean body weight (before = 78.1 kg, after = 77.3; Z score = -3.415, P = 0.001) and waist circumference (Z = -2.569, P = 0.004) were reduced, their diabetes knowledge was enhanced, and lifestyle behaviours were significantly improved. Conclusions. A short diabetes prevention program delivered by bilingual peers was associated with improved diabetes awareness, changed lifestyle behaviour, and reduction in body weight 3 months after intervention. The findings are encouraging and should stimulate a larger control-designed study.
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE ; Department of GP, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia.
authors: Nabil
authors: N
authors: Sulaiman
authors: Dianella Community Health, Broadmeadows, Melbourne, VIC 3047, Australia.
authors: Elaine
authors: E
authors: Hadj
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE.
authors: Amal
authors: A
authors: Hussein
authors: Department of GP, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia.
authors: Doris
authors: D
authors: Young