The National Institute of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has awarded a $945,000 three-year R01 grant to fund the study titled, “A Family-Dyad-Focused Diabetes Self-Management Intervention for African American Adults with Type 2 Diabetes.” The grant was awarded to Jie Hu, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor in the Center for Healthy Aging, Self-Management and Complex Care at The Ohio State College of Nursing. Co-investigators include Lorraine C. Mion PhD, RN, FAAN, Alai Tan, PhD, The Ohio State University College of Nursing; Suzanne Bartle-Haring, PhD, The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology; Joshua J. Joseph, MD, MPH, FAHA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Carla K. Miller, PhD, Indiana University School of Public Health.
The study focuses on health disparities in diabetes that disproportionately affect the health of African American people. The study uses a dyadic-centered approach that values African American culture of interdependence to test a diabetes self-management intervention with the goal of improving diabetes management for African American adults with type 2 diabetes. The study also explores the dyadic relationship and changes in dyadic stress, physical activity and healthy eating, diabetes control and health-related quality of life in African American adults with type 2 diabetes.
“I am very excited about helping African American people with diabetes and their families to improve health and disease management,” said Hu. “Our study will not only improve diabetes control for African American adults with type 2 diabetes but also engage family members in healthy lifestyle behaviors to prevent diabetes. The intervention will contribute to the science of behavior change among family dyads.”
The goals of the intervention are to encourage participants to self-manage diabetes and stress daily, establish a healthy eating pattern, engage in regular physical activity and use solution-focused problem-solving strategies and supportive family communication skills.
“Results from the study will provide the foundation for the development and implementation of family dyad-focused intervention strategies for the African American population and their families,” said Hu.
