Diabetes

Posted: March 27th, 2020

Diabetes

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Diabetes

            The article, A family-based diabetes intervention for Hispanic adults and their family members by Hu et al. (2014) documents the effects of a family-based intervention among Hispanic populations. The study provides an intricate understanding of the vulnerability that minority population experience. It establishes a method of reducing the effects of the ailment. Different studies have been carried out to evaluate the scope and effect of diabetes among minority communities such as Hispanics. Based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 29 million adults residing in the United States are affected by diabetes (Hu et al., 2014). While this is the case, most people living with the disease often encounter a myriad of issues such as diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease that affect their ability to operate normally within the environment. In order to deal with the conditions associated with the disease, people from minority communities are forced to attend physician visits, use various medications and engage in constant self-care. Consequently, the main objective of the article is to identify the effects of family-based intervention programs on the behavior and attitudes of Hispanics affected by diabetes.

            Health outcomes among diabetic patients can be improved through pursuing self-management approaches. While scholars have concentrated on the importance of a healthy diet as well as a robust exercise program as major contributors of glycemic control, Hispanics find it difficult to conform to the health management practices required under the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Based on the article, Hispanics barely engage in physical activities as well as glucose self-monitoring making them more vulnerable to the effects of the disease (Hu et al., 2014). Particularly, Hispanics have been considered vulnerable to type two diabetes (T2DM) that is characterized by poor self-management practices. However, establishing a family-based intervention program will assist in changing the health biomarkers, psychosocial challenges accentuating the possibility of increased health-related quality of life.

            The article establishes a background for the pursuit of family-related interventions based on the social and cultural influences that Hispanics hold dear. Hispanics value the concept of family. They are conformed to practices that concentrate on the development of family values, attitudes, activities, and beliefs. In this case, it forms a significant level of influence that is able to lead to positive lifestyles as well as improved self-care (Denham et al., 2011). For this population, the authors identify that family systems provide the necessary social support that is essential in spearheading elevated physical activity as well as healthy diets. It concentrates on the applications of social cognitive theory in fostering interaction between people from different settings ensuring that they develop improved knowledge and practice self-management while dealing with diabetic cases. Through the family based intervention, the authors hypothesize that Hispanic community members will display improved self-care, enhanced metabolic measures, and increased diabetic knowledge.

            The study took into account a quasi-experimental approach with one-group longitudinal design to evaluate the consequences of family-based intervention programs among the Hispanics. Information was collected in three levels. It included at the baseline level, the post-intervention level, and one-month follow-up. This was done to patients affected with diabetes. Participants were collected from rural central North Carolina, particularly with T2DM (Hu et al., 2014). The study targeted Hispanics as they make up a large proportion of the countryside North Carolina populace who do not have basic medical insurance. In order to qualify for the sample, the individual had to be an adult Hispanic who was willing to participate, and who could produce a T2DM medical report (Hu et al., 2014). Participants were required to fill out demographic forms, issue a report of their height and weight, their physical activities and participation, diet, knowledge of diabetes and their health-related quality of life. Analysis was done through the growth curve where a two-sided p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically momentous (Hu et al., 2014). The results show that most patients were obese, overweight, possessed diastolic and systolic blood pressure, and had an account of hypertension. They also lacked sufficient education regarding diabetes and its effects.

            The assertions of the goal setting theory were sufficient when attempting to recognize the hindrances that Hispanic diabetics had to self-supervision. In this case, the authors identify that including family members in the intervention process is likely to increase the patient’s ability to recover. They prove effective in actualizing dietary and lifestyle changes among patients. The results demonstrate an improvement in the lives of the Hispanic diabetics in as far as their physical capabilities were concerned. The participants were able to change their attitudes, values, and perceptions towards their diet, knowledge of diabetes and its consequences and physical exercise (Baig et al., 2015). Family members seem to provide patients with the necessary psychological and emotional support to foster recovery and acquire healthy behaviors. Based on the study, the intervention proved to be effective in spearheading positive quality of life among Hispanic patients with diabetes over a short time.

            Although the article provided essential information regarding the application of family-based interventions among Hispanic patients with diabetes, the authors cite a number of issues that may have prevented better and inclusive results. The research had a small, non-probability sample that lowered the ability to identify variations at post intervention and 1-month follow-up (Hu et al., 2014). The implications of the study demand that family interventions be pursued by minority communities such as Hispanics and Latinos who are experiencing a challenge with the effects created by diabetes.

References

Baig, A. A., Benitez, A., Quinn, M. T., & Burnet, D. L. (2015). Family interventions to improve diabetes outcomes for adults. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1353(1), 89-112.

Denham, S. A., Ware, L. J., Raffle, H., & Leach, K. (2011). Family inclusion in diabetes education: a nationwide survey of diabetes educators. The Diabetes Educator, 37(4), 528-535.

Hu, J., Wallace, D. C., McCoy, T. P., & Amirehsani, K. A. (2014). A family-based diabetes intervention for Hispanic adults and their family members. The Diabetes Educator, 40(1), 48-59.