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An Educational Approach for Improving Prediabetes Awareness and Management among Asian Americans

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Abstract
Background: South Asian Americans have a high prevalence of prediabetes due to their dietary habits, physical activity changes, and lifestyle variations. The literature review depicts the evidence that community-based educational programs improve knowledge and lifestyle behaviors to prevent diabetes. Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focuses on implementing a culturally tailored education approach that helps manage prediabetes by changing their lifestyle behaviors among South Asian immigrants living in Maryland. Methods: The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as the theoretical framework. A prediabetes screening test from CDC was used to recruit fourteen participants aged 18-60 from a South Asian church. Two online zoom sixty-minute classes were focused on an overview of prediabetes and culturally tailored lifestyle modifications using PowerPoint presentation lectures. To measure this project's outcomes, the participants were asked to complete pre-and post-education questionnaires to assess the level of knowledge and program satisfaction. Results: The results of the pre-and post-questionnaire analysis demonstrated a significant improvement in prediabetes knowledge and self-management between pre-and post-education. The percentage of participants reported “prediabetes is blood sugar higher than normal,” “A1C is average blood glucose level for 2-3 months,” “A1C between 5.7% and 6.5% indicates prediabetes,” “prediabetes individuals should check blood sugar 1-2 years” was increased to 100%, 100, 93%, and 100% respectively. The percentage of participants who reported following “healthy diet to prevent diabetes,” “try to avoid or reduce starchy Asian foods,” “reach daily required physical activity” was increased to 100%, 93%, and 93% respectively. Implications/Conclusion: Successful implementation of a culturally tailored community-based group education demonstrated an improvement in prediabetes knowledge and benefits of behavioral lifestyle modifications among South Asian American adults. Implications for ongoing educational projects should include group educational programs that could encourage retention of their knowledge and healthier choices of lifestyle behaviors for the prevention of diabetes. Keywords: Diabetes prevention, culturally tailored lifestyle modifications, community-based interventions, diabetes prevention programs in the South Asian church, South Asian Americans, COVID and diabetes.
Type
Capstone Project
Date
2021-05
Publisher
License
License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/