Ethno-Cultural Barriers to Health Literacy/Disease Management in AAs

描述(由申请人提供)：研究表明，糖尿病患者坚持自我管理的养生法是一个严重的问题，遵从性差的原因可能植根于低识字率、文化和生活方式。在这一领域需要更多的研究，因为健康素养(HL) 不仅衡量一个人的阅读和理解能力，而且还衡量一个人根据医学指令和信息采取行动的能力。非洲裔美国人社区尤其如此，他们受到慢性病的不同影响。这项描述性的混合方法研究的主要目的是探索信仰和文化对健康素养的影响。 最终在南卡罗来纳州的四个地区对美国儿科协会的糖尿病进行管理。我们的方法目标是开发一种可靠、有效和可推广的调查工具，其中包含代表文化信仰、价值观、经历和对健康信息的偏好的项目。这项研究的创新之处在于，它承认了AA社区的异质性，并将应用理论上扎根的模型来指导实质性和方法论目标。我们将在第一年使用焦点小组和认知访谈，并在第二年和第三年实施预测和人口调查。这项研究的结果将指导信息和战略的选择，随后将在目标人群中进行测试，以改善健康结果。这项研究可以推动这一科学的发展，因为它与促进弱势群体的健康素养和疾病管理有关。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Research suggests that regimen adherence for self-management of diabetes is a serious problem and reason for poor adherence may be rooted in low literacy, culture, and lifestyle. More research is needed in this area, as health literacy (HL) not only measures a person's ability to read and comprehend, but also the ability to act on medical instructions and information. This is particularly true for the African American community which suffers disparate impact from chronic illness. The substantive aim of this descriptive, mixed method study is to explore the effects of beliefs and culture on health literacy and ultimately the management of diabetes in AAs from four regions in South Carolina. Our methodological aim is to develop a reliable, valid and generalizable survey tool with items that represents cultural beliefs, values, experiences and preferences for health information. This study is innovative in that it acknowledges the heterogeneity of the AA community and will apply theoretically grounded models to guide the substantive and methodological aims. We will use focus groups and cognitive interviews in year one and instrument pre-testing and population survey implementation in years two and three. Findings from this study will guide the selection of messages and strategies that will be subsequently tested within targeted populations to improve health outcomes. This study can advance the science as it relates to promoting health literacy and disease management among vulnerable populations.