Primary Source: Family history of diabetes, awareness of risk factors, and health behaviors among African Americans. Baptiste-Roberts et al. Am J Public Health. 2007 Mar 29
Secondary Source: Better Diabetes Awareness Doesn’t Equal Better Habits for Some Blacks
Glenda Fauntleroy Health Behavior News Service
The Study
The study population consisted of 1,122 African-American adults, none of who was diagnosed with diabetes but 36 percent of whom reported that an immediate family member had type 2 diabetes.
Among that subgroup with a family history of diabetes, “nearly 60 percent had a better-than-average awareness of the diabetes risk factors” compared to 47 percent of the the control group (no family history of diabetes) who history demonstrated that level of awareness.”1
This larger proportion of individuals with family histories positive for diabetes, aware of the risk factors was not reflected in positive health behaviors. For example,
Possible reasons proffered for this discrepancy and corrective actions recommended included:
- Some reasons for this difference could be that people may not be aware of national standards used to define overweight and obesity. Furthermore, it has been shown in several studies that there may be a greater acceptance of a heavier body size among African-Americans.
- One approach would be to improve awareness of health risks associated with being overweight or obese and accurate perceptions of defining overweight and obesity. This could be accomplished by national campaigns, community activism and policy approaches.
- People who are overweight are “definitely aware that being overweight is unhealthy, but may not be able to name a specific risk.
- Education is part of the answer. But what we really have to do is make it environmentally and educationally appealing to change behaviors, not just for diabetes, but for most chronic health conditions.
On the other hand, those subjects with diabetic family members were more likely to consume 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day and to have been screened for diabetes.
Commentary
This article is one more indication that informing a patient about his or her disorder and its treatment is insufficient to assure adherence to treatment.
It is notable that the conclusion of the primary article itself is African Americans with a family history of diabetes were more aware of diabetes risk factors and more likely to engage in certain health behaviors than were African Americans without a family history of the disease while the review of that article, using the same data, observed that a patient’s greater awareness didn’t necessarily translate into healthy behavior.
Perhaps the most useful take-home message is the observation of Kate Lorig, R.N., a professor at Stanford University’s Patient Education Research Center,
Footnotes
- The awareness scored was based on participants being shown “a seven-item list and asked whether any of the factors increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes. All seven items on the list are risk factors for diabetes — minority race or ethnicity, overweight, family history of diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, older age, high-calorie diet and diabetes during pregnancy.”↩