The Impact of Diabetes Self Management Education Classes On Empowerment and A1c in Ethnic Armenian Elderly

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Background: No research has been done on the impact of diabetes self-management education (DSME) classes delivered in native language on improving disease outcome in ethnic Armenians.Purpose: Nine hours of DSME classes was offered to clients who attended Daylight Adult Health Day Care Centers in Glendale and Hollywood over 6 weeks period. The attendees of these two centers are mostly first generation immigrants of Armenian descent who are 65 years and above. The classes were offered in Armenian language by a certified diabetes educator of Armenian descent. The impact of DSME on HbA1c levels and perception of empowerment in ethnic Armenians was studied. The impact of acculturation, age, gender and number of years of diabetes was explored The sample was homogenous with respect to ethnicity, age group, health insurance.Methodology: The subjects were obtained by quota sampling. Quasi experimental before and after one group design to assess the impact of education on HbA1c levels and 8-item Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES) scores was done. A paired t-test was used to compare the difference in HbA1c and DES scores. Analysis of variance ANOVA was used to test the mediating effect of acculturation on both HbA1c and DES.Findings: 75 participants completed the study. The results of the paired sample t-test indicated that the mean of the post-A1c (M = 686, SD = 103) was significantly lower than the pre-A1c levels (M = 719, SD = 125), t(74) = 2415, p < 05. The mean of the post-DES (M = 436, SD = 052) was significantly greater than the mean of pre-DES (M = 405, SD = 055), t(74) = -4225, p < 05.Summary Concluding Statement: The findings demonstrated the efficacy of the educational program in improving diabetes self- care management skills. Background: No research has been done on the impact of diabetes self-management education (DSME) classes delivered in native language on improving disease outcome in ethnic Armenians. Purpose: Nine hours of DSME classes was offered to clients who attended Daylight Adult Health Day Care Centers in Glendale and Hollywood over 6 weeks period. The attendees of these two centers are mostly first generation immigrants of Armenian descent who are 65 years and above. The classes were offered in Armenian language by a certified diabetes educator of Armenian descent. The impact of DSME on HbA1c levels and perception of empowerment in ethnic Armenians was studied. The impact of acculturation, age, gender and number of years of diabetes was explored The sample was homogenous with respect to ethnicity, age group, health insurance. Methodology: The subjects were obtained by quota sampling. Quasi experimental before and after one group design to assess the impact of education on HbA1c levels and 8-item Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES) scores was done. A paired t-test was used to compare the difference in HbA1c and DES scores. Analysis of variance ANOVA was used to test the mediating effect of acculturation on both HbA1c and DES. Findings: 75 participants completed the study. The results of the paired sample t-test indicated that the mean of the post-A1c (M = 686, SD = 103) was significantly lower than the pre-A1c levels (M = 719, SD = 125), t(74) = 2415, p < 05. The mean of the post-DES (M = 436, SD = 052) was significantly greater than the mean of pre-DES (M = 405, SD = 055), t(74) = -4225, p < 05. Summary Concluding Statement: The findings demonstrated the efficacy of the educational program in improving diabetes self- care management skills.