Health beliefs of Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes: The Starr County border health initiative

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare 2 culturally competent diabetes self-management interventions designed for Mexican Americans: an original extended program (24 hours of education, 28 hours of support groups) versus a shorter, more resource-efficient compressed strategy (16 hours of education, 6 hours of support groups). The effects of the interventions on health beliefs are compared.

Methods: The authors recruited 216 persons between 35 and 70 years of age diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least 1 year. Intervention groups of 8 participants and 8 support persons were randomly assigned to 1 of the interventions.

Results: Mean health belief scores on each subscale improved for both intervention groups. Both intervention groups reported significant improvements in perceptions of control of their diabetes. Improvements in health beliefs were more sustained at 12 months for individuals in the longer, extended program. The health belief subscale control was the most significant predictor of HbA1c levels at 12 months.

Conclusions: Both culturally competent diabetes self-management education interventions were effective in promoting more positive health beliefs. These findings on health beliefs indicate a dosage effect of the intervention and support the importance of ongoing contact through support groups to attain more sustainable improvements in health beliefs.