Introduction and Objective: Diabetes affects all cultures, yet inequities persist, especially among minority groups who often receive lower-quality care. Language barriers lead to inadequate blood sugar control and reduced engagement in Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME). This report evaluates the effectiveness of a DSME team in integrating culturally competent translated care into primary care, enhancing services for patients with language barriers using best practices and a patient-centered approach to provide materials in their preferred languages.Methods: Eligible patients aged 18-75 with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and a language preference classified as “other” were included, with exclusions for Type 1 Diabetes and out-of-state residency. Data from 110 participants (mean age 45 years, SD = 18) included 53% female, with language preferences: 49% Spanish, 10% Vietnamese, 16% Chinese, 7% Russian, 6% Arabic, 5% Farsi, and others. A chi-squared test compared appointment completion rates (scheduled vs. completed) and no-show rates between standard scheduling with translation services and culturally competent outreach involving initial assessments by the CDCES and the translation team.Results: The DSME team had a 55.45% completion rate (73 of 110), while standard practice had 4.55% (5 of 110). The chi-squared test indicated a significant difference (?? = 77.84, df = 1), showing that the DSME approach significantly enhances appointment completion. Additionally, 87% of DSME participants completed their follow-up lab results within 6 months, compared to only 6% of non-participants.Conclusion: These findings highlight the crucial role of culturally competent translated DSME outreach and care in improving health outcomes and reducing disparities among diverse populations.
A. Simos: None. J. Ringrose: Employee; Insulet Corporation. J. Hong: None. M. Gabriel: None. S. Tsai: None. M. Basina: None.
Source link
Leave a Reply