Evaluation of an Elementary School Diabetes Prevention Curriculum in a Mohawk Community

Abstract

The Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project (KSDPP), a community-based participatory research project at Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, Quebec, evaluated the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC) Health Education Program (HEP) for Diabetes Prevention for the years 2010 to 2012 at 2 elementary schools. The project goal was to understand how the HEP continued to be delivered since its inception in 1994. The project objectives were to identify the relevance and accuracy of the curriculum content; to identify the cultural appropriateness of the content and instructional methodology, and the successes and challenges of the implementation methodology; to identify facilitators and barriers of the HEP delivery; and to understand the overall effectiveness of the curriculum. Qualitative and quantitative data collection included individual interviews with principals; teacher questionnaires; talking circles with teachers and with key informants (authors); and a curriculum review of the content, instructional methodology and cultural appropriateness. The results indicated that participants and evaluators perceived the HEP as important to the children to increase knowledge regarding health behaviours to prevent type 2 diabetes. The strengths of the curriculum included factors involving a positive school environment and certain aspects of delivery and curriculum content. Weaknesses included lack of administrative support, instructional time and time management issues, a lack of Mohawk cultural representation, and outdated or missing resource materials. Recommendations addressed curriculum content, cultural integration, methodology development and administrative support to revitalize the curriculum and delivery. Knowledge transfer activities include discussions with local stakeholders (hospital, schools and KSDPP) with follow up strategizing to implement the recommendations.