Developing a culturally tailored multigenerational intervention to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes in American Indian families living in rural settings: Findings from a focus group study

摘要

Abstract The study purpose was to understand the characteristics of interventions that would be most relevant and beneficial to address the diabetes‐related needs and challenges of rural American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIAN) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their families. In an exploratory study design, we held a total of seven focus groups in Florida and rural Oklahoma. Groups included 3–13 individuals (62 total, 77% were female, mean age 55.3 [11.4] years and mean duration of diabetes 10.4 [ SD 9.1] years) who were referred by staff from HealthStreet, Consent2Share mechanism, and by tribal educators. All groups were moderated by the same American Indian research team member using a discussion guide with open‐ended questions, followed by probes. Findings revealed themes centered on optimal intervention components, barriers to type 2 diabetes—prevention and management (T2D‐PM), personal experiences with T2D, and impact of family behaviors on T2D‐PM. Findings indicate that the participants desire diabetes programs that include family members and a hands‐on, culturally meaningful approach. Creating an intervention based on the AIAN community's insights that include the entire family may improve T2D‐PM outcomes for this population.