Improving Physical Activity in Hispanics with Diabetes and their Families

This study examined changes in physical activity among Hispanics with diabetes and their families who received an 8-week diabetes self-management intervention.

A quasi-experimental design was used to conduct a secondary analysis of physical activity data from two intervention studies that used the same protocols and measures.

A total of 65 patients and 66 family members participated in the studies.

Physical activity was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and pedometers. Self-report of physical activity was collected pre- and postintervention, and pedometer data for the 8 weeks of the intervention period.

The interventions consisted of 8 weeks of educational sessions.

IPAQ walking Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)-minutes per week significantly increased for patients (p < .001) and family members (p < .001) from pre- to postintervention as did moderate activity MET-minutes/week for family members (p = .004). Based on pedometer steps, the percentage of sedentary patients declined from 38% to 17% over the intervention record; differences in pedometer steps over time were not significant for patients (p = .803) or family members (p = .144).

Pedometers are a cost effective and user-friendly method of measuring physical activity. Pedometers can also serve as a motivator to help increase physical activity among Hispanics with diabetes and their family members.