title: Community Interventions to Improve Glycemic Control in African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systemic Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of published community interventions to evaluate different components of community interventions and their ability to positively impact glycemic control in African Americans with T2DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline, PsychInfo, and CINAHL were searched for potentially eligible studies published from January 2000 through January 2012. The following inclusion criteria were established for publications: (1) describe a community intervention, not prevention; (2) specifically indicate, in data analysis and results, the impact of the community intervention on African American adults, 18 years and older; (3) measure glycemic control (HbA1C) as an outcome measure; and (4) involve patients in a community setting, which excludes hospitals and hospital clinics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen studies out of 9,233 articles identified in the search met the predetermined inclusion criteria. There were 5 randomized control trials and 3 reported improved glycemic control in the intervention group compared to the control group at the completion of the study. Of the 8 studies that were not randomized control trials, 6 showed a statistically significant change in HbA1C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, the community interventions assessed led to significant reductions in HbA1C in African Americans with type 2 diabetes. Community health workers did not have a greater impact on glycemic control in this sample. The findings of this study provides insight for designing community-based interventions in the future, such as including use of multiple delivery methods, consideration of mobile device software, nutritionist educator, and curriculum-based approaches.
authors.forename: Brittany L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Smalls
authors.forename: Rebekah J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Heather S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bonilha
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina. egedel@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Leonard E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Egede
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003153:Community Health Services; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human