African American Women With Type 2 Diabetes: Understanding Self-Management

Prescribed self-management behaviors have been found to be important factors affecting the rates of morbidity and mortality in multiple medical conditions including chronic diseases such as diabetes, a condition that disproportionately affects high health risk populations such as African Americans. This study focused on understanding health behaviors, beliefs, and associated factors such as support systems and access to care that played a role in diabetes self-management and glucose control. The study also explored diabetes self-management education and its role in diabetes self-management. The research conducted in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties in Florida, included twenty-five African American women between the ages of forty-six and eighty-seven, with self-identified diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes). The study also included seven diabetes self-management educators consisting of nutritionists, a nurse educator, physicians, and an exercise physiologist--key members of the diabetes self-management team. Additionally, five diabetes education programs were observed. Methods included semi-structured qualitative interviews, with direct and participant observation of the Diabetes Intervention Prevention Program (DIPP), the St. Petersburg Free Clinic Diabetes Program, and the Morton Plant Meese/Joslin Diabetes Program in Pinellas County. Hillsborough County sites included the USF Diabetes Program, and University Community Hospital\u27s Diabetes Care Program. Site selection included a cross-section of program types: non-clinic/community-based, community-based clinic, hospital-based, and university clinic-based. The study also utilized a thirty-nine question survey designed to elicit information about self-management beliefs and behaviors. Results revealed several self-management behavioral variables affecting glucose control: (1) nutritional/dietary changes, (2) exercise, (3) medication use, (4) blood glucose monitoring, (5) physician-patient interaction, (6) support systems, and (7) patient education/knowledge. Results also identified access to care as a contributor to self-management. Two models of diabetes self-management emerged from the findings: a model of balanced self-management held by the diabetes educators and self-management programs, and a model of Interruption practiced by the women. Recommendations highlighted the need for the awareness of socio-cultural factors affecting self-management, the elimination of barriers affecting access to care, improvement in physician-patient interaction, provision of culturally aware patient education, and stronger community and family support systems

Perceived benefits and negative consequences of alcohol consumption in women living with HIV: a qualitative study

Abstract Background Women living with HIV have increased prevalence of medical and psychological comorbidities that could be adversely affected by alcohol consumption. Little is known about their unique motivations for drinking or perceptions of HIV-related consequences. In preparation for an alcohol intervention study, we sought to better understand reasons for drinking and perceived consequences of alcohol consumption among a sample of women living with HIV. Methods Four focus groups, with a total of 24 adult women (96 % African-American, 88 % HIV-positive), were conducted in Jacksonville, FL, Washington, DC and Chicago, IL. Focus group discussions were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim; a conventional content analysis approach was used to identify themes, that were then grouped according to a biopsychosocial model. Results Regarding reasons for drinking, women described themes that included biological (addiction, to manage pain), psychological (coping, to escape bad experiences, to feel in control), and social (peer pressure, family). Themes related to consequences from alcohol included biological (damage to body, poor adherence to medications), psychological (risky or regrettable behavior, memory loss), and social (jail, loss of respect, poor choices). When discussing how their drinking impacted their health, women focused on broader issues, rather than HIV-specific issues. Conclusion Many women living with HIV are drinking alcohol in order to self-manage pain or emotions, and their perceived consequences from drinking extend beyond HIV-specific medical issues. Most participants described themes related to psychological issues and situations that are common in women living with HIV. Interventions to address drinking should inquire more specifically about drinking to manage pain or emotion, and help women to recognize the potential adverse impact of alcohol on comorbid health issues, including their own HIV infection