An Effective Model for Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

We developed and tested a cost-effective model for health promotion capacity building among community health volunteers (CHVs) within culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Twenty multilingual CHVs, from CALD communities in Melbourne, underwent 3 days of education and training to deliver face-to-face education programs in their own language. Participants were instructed how to collect anthropometric data, make qualitative observations, and conduct diabetes knowledge questionnaires, before conducting mini education sessions with three members of their own community. Knowledge about diabetes among CHVs increased. CHVs were able to collect anthropomorphic data and knowledge surveys from community participants with greater participation than from outreach programs. Evidence-based data collected by CHVs could be incorporated into health education and promotion programs run by CHVs. Here we confirm that CHVs represent an effective tool for health promotion within CALD communities and have the capacity to incorporate evidence-based collection as part of their health education.