title: Outcomes of a type 2 diabetes education program adapted to the cultural contexts of Saudi women. A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the outcomes of a pilot intervention of a type 2 diabetes (T2D) education program, based on international standards, and adapted to the cultural and religious contexts of Saudi women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is an experiment of a pilot intervention carried out between August 2011 and January 2012 at the primary health clinics in Dammam. Women at risk of or diagnosed with T2D (N=35 including dropouts) were assigned to one of 2 groups; an intervention group participated in a pilot intervention of T2D education program, based on international standards and tailored to their cultural and religious contexts; and a usual care group received the usual care for diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Outcomes included blood glucose, body composition, 6-minute walk distance, life satisfaction, quality of life, and diabetes knowledge. The intervention group participated in a focus group of their program experience. Data analysis was based on mixed methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on 95% confidence interval comparisons, improvements were noted in blood sugar, 6-minute walk distance, quality of life, and diabetes knowledge in participants of the intervention group. They also reported improvements in lifestyle-related health behaviors after the education program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saudi women may benefit from a T2D education program based on international standards and adapted to their cultural and religious contexts.
authors.affiliation: Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. E-mail. hana.albannay@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hana R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Al-Bannay
authors.forename: Lyn E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Jongbloed
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jarus
authors.forename: Sami S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Alabdulwahab
authors.forename: Tawfik A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Khoja
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012529:Saudi Arabia