Symposia
Couples / Close Relationships
Brynn Meulenberg, PhD
Department of Psychology, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Sara Carbajal-Salisbury, B.S.
Director of Health Programs
Alliance Community Services
Murray, Utah
Jeannette Villalta, CHW
Community health Worker
Alliance Community Services
Murray, Utah
Manuel Gutierrez Chavez, B.S.
Graduate Student
University of Utah
Salt lake city, Utah
Madelyn Whitaker, B.S., M.A.
Graduate Student
Department of Psychology, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Anu Asnaani, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Ana Sanchez-Birkhead, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Katherine J. Baucom, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
The University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hispanic adults have the highest rate of type 2 diabetes (T2D) of any race/ethnicity in the US. However, effective culturally-responsive interventions that address the needs of this group are lacking. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) is a large-scale intervention aimed at preventing or delaying T2D among high-risk individuals in the US. Despite diabetes disparities, the NDPP has thus far failed to adequately enroll and retain Hispanic participants. Although cultural adaptations exist, they are only modestly effective in changing health behavior. Family and friends influence health behaviors and outcomes, yet they are underutilized in disease prevention programs. Community partners on a previous project expressed the need for family-based interventions for Hispanic adults. Given the cultural emphasis on familism and frequency of multi-generational households, inclusion of family members may improve NDPP engagement and outcomes in Hispanic communities. Moreover, it may extend the reach to more individuals at high risk for T2D (e.g., children, other family members).
This presentation will describe the development of a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) proposal (under review) to design a culturally-responsive, family-based diabetes prevention package for Hispanic mothers. We formed an interdisciplinary team of researchers, with collaborators at a community-based organization that utilizes Community Health Worker evidence-based models. As Hispanic mothers are often in charge of meal preparation and grocery shopping, we believe lifestyle change is more likely to permeate throughout the family if we target mothers and leverage the support of other family members. Our proposal includes two mixed-methods studies in which Community Health Workers deliver interventions to family dyads: (a) a formative evaluation of the current NDPP 16-class core curriculum, as well as (b) a proof-of-concept evaluation of the adapted intervention. At the outset of the project, we will form a Community Advisory Board (CAB) that includes Hispanic individuals with experience with T2D. The CAB will carefully review the proposed methods and measures to ensure the appropriateness prior to data collection. Throughout data collection, the CAB will review results and recommend intervention adaptations to better meet the needs of Hispanic mothers and their families. Our collaborative partnership illustrates the potential utility of CBPR for adapting interventions to better meet the needs of dyads among underserved populations.