Patient Voices: Doctors and Diabetes Management

To assess the challenges of managing diabetes experienced by clients of a community-based social services organization via qualitative interviews; to develop recommendations for more effective diabetes education programming at the organization based on themes identified in the interviews.

Staff at Progreso Latino in Central Falls recruited clients with diabetes and prediabetes to participate in interviews during the summer of 2019. Each interview used a structured question set and was conducted in the participant's preferred language of Spanish or English. Investigators analyzed the interview transcripts and identified predominant themes.

Analysis of fourteen interviews yielded four predominant themes: uncertainty about diagnosis and treatment, fear as part of the discussion with providers, language barriers, and cultural barriers.

To strengthen diabetes education programming at a community-based organization, we recommend utilization of community health workers, development of culturally appropriate dietary recommendations, and creation of educational videos in clients' preferred languages.