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Steve Barnett

Publications and source records attributed to Steve Barnett.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Culturally competent dietary education for southern rural African Americans with diabetes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to describe a culturally competent, dietary self-management intervention designed to improve physiological outcomes, diabetes self-management, and costs of care for high-risk African Americans with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A longitudinal, quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention for 23 adult African Americans from a physician practice group in rural South Carolina. The intervention consisted of 4 low-fat dietary education classes, 6 discussion groups, and follow-up. Intervention sessions were provided by a dietitian and nurse case managers and framed as social events; families were encouraged to participate. RESULTS: Data suggest that the intervention significantly improved fat-related dietary habits, A1C values, fasting blood glucose, and frequency of acute care visits. A trend in reduction of lipids and weight also was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Culturally competent dietary self-management provides a meaningful approach to focused diabetes education for rural African Americans. Integrating nursing case management provides an innovative method of addressing the more global issues of delivery of care to underserved rural populations and decreasing the high costs of care.

Adult↗

Soul food light: culturally competent diabetes education.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test effects of a culturally competent, dietary self-management intervention on physiological outcomes and dietary behaviors for African Americans with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A longitudinal experimental study was conducted in rural South Carolina with a sample of 97 adult African Americans with type 2 diabetes who were randomly assigned to either usual care or the intervention. The intervention consisted of 4 weekly classes in low-fat dietary strategies, 5 monthly peer-professional group discussions, and weekly telephone follow-up. The culturally competent approach reflected the ethnic beliefs, values, customs, food preferences, language, learning methods, and health care practices of southern African Americans. RESULTS: Body mass index and dietary fat behaviors were significantly lowered in the experimental group. At 6 months, weight decreased 1.8 kg (4 lb) for the experimental group and increased 1.9 kg (4.2 lb) for the control group, a net difference of 3.7 kg (8.2 lb). The experimental group reduced high-fat dietary habits to moderate while high-fat dietary habits of the control group remained essentially unchanged. A trend in reduction of A1C and lipids was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the effectiveness of a culturally competent dietary self-management intervention in improving health outcomes for southern African Americans, especially those at risk due to high-fat diets and body mass index >or= 35 kg/mm(2). Given the burgeoning problem of obesity in South Carolina and the nation, the time has come to focus on aggressive weight management. Diabetes educators are in pivotal positions to assume leadership in achieving this goal for vulnerable, rural populations.

Adult↗