Abstract
Background: Georgia has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the US. Obesity and inactivity contribute to the onset of this disease. Tanner Health System addressed the obesity epidemic in three rural counties of Georgia through a 16-week diabetes prevention program (DPP) for 176 residents. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the DPP.
Methods: The multiple methods design of this project used pre- and post-surveys from January/February, 2014, classes to determine diabetes-related lifestyle factors, 11 mid-point telephone interviews, and focus groups with 17 members to identify lifestyle changes that were implemented. Additionally, initial and final measurements of body mass index (BMI), number of sessions attended, and average number of minutes of physical activity (PA) were obtained for 175 participants in classes held in January/February and June/August, 2014.
Results: A paired samples t-test showed statistically significant decreases in BMI from initial to final weigh-ins: t(175)=-7.82, p <0.001. Regression analyses revealed that the number of sessions attended was a statistically significant predictor of BMI loss (p <0.001), explaining 13.5% of the variance. PA was also a significant predictor of BMI differences (p<0.05), accounting for approximately 5% of the variation. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients indicated that BMI decreased as the number of sessions increases (r=-.0367, p <0.001) and as the number of minutes of PA increases (r=-.228, p <.05). After completing the DPP, participants had lower blood glucose levels and were able to lower dosages of medicines. They also had decreased blood pressure and blood cholesterol.
Conclusions: Participation in the DPP reduced risk factors associated with the onset of diabetes through weight loss, healthy eating, and increased exercise. Course content and participation encouraged accountability of participants.
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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Kawulich, Barbara B.; Mindrila, Diana; and Brandenburg, Gina
(2016)
"Evaluation of a Diabetes Prevention Program for Rural Citizens,"
Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association: Vol. 5:
No.
3, Article 8.
DOI: 10.20429/jgpha.2016.050308
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol5/iss3/8
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