Improving Self-Care Management in Low-Income Latinos With Type 2 Diabetes Using Peer-Led U.S. Conversation Maps: A Quality Improvement Project in a Free Clinic

Abstract

A culturally sensitive Healthy Interactions Conversations Maps program was implemented for teaching diabetes self-management education (DSME) to Latinos with type 2 diabetes using peer-led educators in a community health center. Patients were invited to participate in a group care setting to improve access to providers and DSME. Goals were to improve diabetes distress, self-efficacy, and glycemic control as measured by A1C. Significant improvements were found for mean diabetes self-efficacy scores from before (2.53 ± 0.59) to after (2.91 ± 0.50) DSME (P <0.001). Mean A1C decreased significantly from before (9.51 ± 1.72%) to after (8.79 ± 1.68%) DSME (P = 0.043) at the end of the 6-month intervention. Thus, this program was found to be a useful tool for providing DSME in community health clinics serving low-income Latinos.