Understanding Latino Individual and Family Perspectives in a National Diabetes Prevention Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Latino/a adults in the U.S. exhibit higher risks for type 2 diabetes and lower goal achievement in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) compared to non-Latino/a White adults.
• Existing research offers limited insight into the specific barriers and facilitators influencing diabetes prevention behaviors within the Latino/a adult population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and articulate the perspectives of Latino/a participants within the NDPP concerning the barriers and facilitators that impact their engagement in diabetes prevention behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semistructured phone interviews with Spanish-speaking Latino/a adults who had participated in a community-based NDPP.
• The study was conducted in urban and suburban areas of Colorado between June 2022 and August 2023.
• Inductive thematic analysis was performed on audio-recorded and transcribed interviews to identify key themes and subthemes.

Main Results:

• Interviews with 22 participants revealed five overarching themes: the impact of culture and self-perception (including gender roles and cultural biases), family as a catalyst for action, the importance of culturally and linguistically aligned programs, personal motivation for behavior change, and desired family-inclusive program components.
• Specific subthemes highlighted frustration, self-critical beliefs, traditional gender roles, and internalized cultural biases as barriers.
• Facilitators included family support for exercise and diet, culturally concordant information, community health worker support, peer support, and motivation derived from family history and a desire to model healthy behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Gender roles and internalized cultural biases present significant barriers to diabetes prevention behaviors among Latino/a adults.
• Family support and the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate programming are critical facilitators for successful diabetes prevention efforts in this population.
• These findings underscore the need to adapt and enhance diabetes prevention programs to better serve and engage Latino communities, addressing specific cultural and social contexts.