MedPath

Project Dulce for Arab Americans With Type 2 Diabetes

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Interventions
Behavioral: Project Dulce + Dulce Digital
Registration Number
NCT05580536
Lead Sponsor
Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute
Brief Summary

Arab Americans (AA) face many challenges in diabetes self-management due to the limited educational resources and support available for them. The cultural and linguistic barriers between patients and health care providers lead to poor diabetes management and outcomes. This study (Project Dulce Arabic) is adapted from the Project Dulce, an American Diabetes Association (ADA)-recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education Support (DSMES) program. Project Dulce Arabic comprises both peer-led diabetes education in Arabic and a 3-month text messaging program (Dulce Digital). The main aim of the study is to examine the effectiveness of a more culturally and linguistically appropriate diabetes education program in improving diabetes knowledge, beliefs, and self-management as well as hemoglobin A1C.

Detailed Description

Although the Arab American (AA) population is at a higher risk of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to the white non-Hispanic population, there are hardly any culturally appropriate diabetes self-management resources available for Arab Americans.

Project Dulce Arabic is a pilot study addressing both the linguistic and cultural barriers faced by the AA community in diabetes self-management while exploring the genetic background of type 2 diabetes in Arab Americans. To overcome the linguistic barriers, we adapt educational materials from the Project Dulce diabetes self-management study of Mexican Americans (A. Philis-Tsimikas et al., 2011). This 5-week peer-led educational program in Arabic aims to enhance type 2 diabetes knowledge, beliefs, and self-management behaviors as well as improving diabetes management measured by hemoglobin A1C after 3 months and 6 months in the study.

Project Dulce Arabic is incorporating genetic education as a part of its curriculum to raise the community awareness of the role of genetics in T2D development as well as the importance of early genetic risk detection for T2D prevention. We are also asking our Project Dulce Arabic participants to participate in the Scripps Bio-Repository (https://www.scripps.org/research/bio-repository). The specimens obtained from our study cohort will be used for genetic sequencing. Obtaining this genetic information will enable us to gain more insights into the genetic basis of type 2 diabetes in Arab Americans. Comparing the genetic risk of T2D, available from different biobanks, in other ethnic groups with that in Arab Americans would highlight the disease risk faced by the community and draw more attention towards the importance of early disease detection and prevention through tailored screening recommendations.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
48
Inclusion Criteria
  • Are a participant of Metro Caring
  • Self-identified Arab
  • Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
  • HbA1c ≥7.5% in the last 30 days
  • Able to speak, read, write, and comprehend in English and Arabic
  • Have access to a cell phone that can receive/send text messages throughout the study
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnant
  • Are currently participating in another diabetes-related study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Project Dulce + Dulce DigitalProject Dulce + Dulce DigitalParticipants will participate in a peer-led group diabetes self-management education and support program and receive ongoing support via text messages designed to improve knowledge, health beliefs, self-management behaviors and clinical outcomes.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Understanding Health Implications of Genomics at 3 months3 months

To assess the genetic knowledge, a 12-items questionnaire. Response options are 'agree', 'disagree', or 'don't know'. Similarly, a 13-items questionnaire with response options of 'agree' or 'disagree' will be used to assess the attitudes toward genetics research and testing.

Change in Baseline Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale at 3 months3 months

Stanford Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale (Lorig, Stewart, Ritter, et al., 1996) is comprised of 8 items that measure the confidence of a participant in performing self-care activities such as eating meals every 4 to 5 hours, following a healthful diet, exercising, and blood glucose monitoring. Response options range from 1=not at all confident to 10=totally confident, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy.

Understanding Health Implications of Genomics at 6 months6 months

To assess the genetic knowledge, a 12-item questionnaire. Response options are 'agree', 'disagree', or 'don't know'. Similarly, a 13-item questionnaire with response options of 'agree' or 'disagree' will be used to assess the attitudes toward genetics research and testing.

Change from Baseline Health Belief Model Scale at 3 months3 months

Health Belief Model scale (Tan, 2004) is comprised of 36 items that evaluate the health beliefs and attitudes about complications prevention behaviors and active health related behaviors in individuals with diabetes. Responses are on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree), with lower scores indicating greater negative beliefs.

Change from Baseline Diabetes Knowledge at 3 months3 months

Diabetes Knowledge Test (Diabetes Research and Training Center, University of Michigan, 2015) is a 23-item measure of diabetes knowledge, with general questions related to symptoms, self-management (e.g., diet, exercise, foot care, blood glucose monitoring, insulin), and complications (e.g., low, and high blood sugar). Greater scores indicate greater diabetes knowledge.

Change from Baseline Health Belief Model Scale at 6 months6 months

Health Belief Model scale (Tan, 2004) is comprised of 36 items that evaluate the health beliefs and attitudes about complications prevention behaviors and active health related behaviors in individuals with diabetes. Responses are on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree), with lower scores indicating greater negative beliefs.

Change from Baseline Diabetes Knowledge at 6 months6 months

Diabetes Knowledge Test (Diabetes Research and Training Center, University of Michigan, 2015) is a 23-item measure of diabetes knowledge, with general questions related to symptoms, self-management (e.g., diet, exercise, foot care, blood glucose monitoring, insulin), and complications (e.g., low, and high blood sugar). Greater scores indicate greater diabetes knowledge.

Change in Baseline Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale at 6 months6 months

Stanford Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale (Lorig, Stewart, Ritter, et al., 1996) is comprised of 8 items that measure the confidence of a participant in performing self-care activities such as eating meals every 4 to 5 hours, following a healthful diet, exercising, and blood glucose monitoring. Response options range from 1=not at all confident to 10=totally confident, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Baseline Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) at 6 months6 months

Samples will be processed by Quest Diagnostics Inc and assayed by Immunoturbidimetry (Integra 800, Roche).

Change in Baseline Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities at 3 months3 months

Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities measure (Toobert, Hampson, \& Glassgow, 2000) is a 13-item brief questionnaire that assesses a respondent's adherence to self-management behavior recommendations in the past 7 days, including general and specific diet, exercise, blood glucose testing, foot care, medication adherence, and smoking, with greater scores indicating greater adherence.

Change in Baseline International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form at 3 months3 months

International Physical Activity -Short Form (Craig et al., 2003) assesses the amount of physical activity (work, leisure, and other) and sedentary time in the past 7 days.

Change in Baseline International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form at 6 months6 months

International Physical Activity -Short Form (Craig et al., 2003) assesses the amount of physical activity (work, leisure, and other) and sedentary time in the past 7 days.

Change in Baseline Food Frequency Questionnaire at 3 months3 months

Food frequency questionnaire (Alqahtani et al., 2017) measures the amounts and frequencies of fruits, vegetables, and common foods in the Arab American community.

Change in Baseline Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities at 6 months6 months

Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities measure (Toobert, Hampson, \& Glassgow, 2000) is a 13-item brief questionnaire that assesses a respondent's adherence to self-management behavior recommendations in the past 7 days, including general and specific diet, exercise, blood glucose testing, foot care, medication adherence, and smoking, with greater scores indicating greater adherence.

Change in Baseline Food Frequency Questionnaire at 6 months6 months

Food frequency questionnaire (Alqahtani et al., 2017) measures the amounts and frequencies of fruits, vegetables, and common foods in the Arab American community.

Change in Baseline Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) at 3 months3 months

Samples will be processed by Quest Diagnostics Inc and assayed by Immunoturbidimetry (Integra 800, Roche).

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

San Ysidro Health

🇺🇸

El Cajon, California, United States

Metro Caring

🇺🇸

Denver, Colorado, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath