Differences in self-management behaviors and use of preventive services among diabetes management enrollees by race and ethnicity.

Full Abstract

We assessed the degree that managed care organization (MCO) enrollees used preventive services and engaged in diabetes self-management behaviors by race/ethnicity. A 40-item selfadministered survey was mailed to 19,483 diabetic MCO enrollees. The survey measured use of eight preventive services and engagement in four self-management behaviors among enrollees who self-identified as black, white, or Hispanic. Of the 6,035 surveys analyzed, 4,623 respondents (76.6%) were white, 984 (16.3%) were black, and 428 (7.0%) were Hispanic. Black and Hispanic respondents reported more healthcare visits (mean of 7.0 and 6.5, respectively) in the past year compared to whites (mean, 5.7; p < 0.0001). However, compared to whites, blacks had significantly lower utilization of five of the eight preventive services measured, and Hispanics had significantly lower utilization of seven of the eight preventive services (p < 0.005). With regard to self-management behaviors, blacks were significantly less likely than whites to monitor their diet (65.9% vs. 73.7%, p < 0.0001), exercise (46.4% vs. 52.8%; p = 0.0004) and not smoke (85.1% vs. 89.3%; p = 0.0002); while Hispanics were less likely to monitor their diet (67.3% vs. 73.7%, p = 0.0051). All racial/ethnic groups had low levels of selfmanagement behaviors. Further research is warranted to identify why disparities remain in settings where services are universally available, and to find practical ways to eliminate disparities in a group with routine healthcare encounters.

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Author information

Author/s: Oster, Natalia Vukshich (NV); Welch, Verna (V); Schild, Laura (L); Gazmararian, Julie A (JA); Rask, Kimberly (K); Spettell, Claire (C);

Affiliation: Emory Center on Health Outcomes and Quality (ECHOQ), Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. noster(-atsign-)sph.emory.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Disease management : DM (Dis Manag), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jun; vol 9 (issue 3) : pp 167-75

Dates: Created 2006/06/12; Completed 2006/11/08; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16764534, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

African Americans
Continental Population Groups
Diabetes Mellitus - prevention & control; therapy
Disease Management
Ethnic Groups
European Continental Ancestry Group
Female
Health Behavior
Hispanic Americans

Hispanic Americans
Humans
Male
Managed Care Programs
Middle Aged
Preventive Health Services - utilization
Questionnaires
Self Care
United States

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