This study contributes valuable information to the growing body of literature on diabetes, depression, and healthcare utilization by examining these relationships in a currently understudied population, namely African-American primary care patients. In contrast to many previous studies with predominantly white samples that found a positive association between diabetes and depression, no association was found in [...]

Continue reading " DIABETES, DEPRESSION, AND HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION: DISCUSSION "

Between Individuals with and Without Diabetes Table 1 compares African-American patients with and without diabetes in this sample. The two groups did not differ significantly on age, gender, or TennCare (Medicaid) enrollment. However, group differences in income and education were observed, with lower levels of income and lower rates of high-school graduation among individuals with [...]

Continue reading " DIABETES, DEPRESSION, AND HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION: RESULTS "

Sample The data were collected as part of a larger study on patients in family and internal medicine in the Meharry Medical Practice Plan (MMPP) primary care clinic, at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, which serves the local low-income, largely Medicaid-eligible population. The study enrolled new and existing patients who presented for primary care. [...]

Continue reading " DIABETES, DEPRESSION, AND HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS "

Racial/ethnic minorities and the economically disadvantaged are at increased risk for diabetes. For example, 13% of African Americans have diabetes, compared to 6.2% of the general U.S. population. Deaths from diabetes and certain types of diabetes complications are more common among African Americans than among whites. The association between low socioeconomic status and diabetes risk [...]

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The women who participated in this study spontaneously listed among their top four most serious health threats for African-American women the same four most common causes of death as reported by the Centers for Disease Control (heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease and diabetes). However, the considerable variations in their levels of awareness of each disease [...]

Continue reading " Womens Perceptions of Their Most Serious Health Problems: DISCUSSION "

Top Health Problems One of the survey questions asked participants to list the top four most serious health threats for African-American women. Half (50.4%) of the participants listed four health threats, 26.4% listed three, 13.5% listed two, 4.9% listed one and 4.7% provided no response. Table 1 shows the four health problems most frequently mentioned [...]

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Women responded to 10 closed-ended statements related to their perceptions of their ability to influence their own health outcomes (Table 6). The women’s discernment of the subtle phrasing differences in the series of attitudinal statements suggested that they had read and understood each question. The women’s responses strongly suggested that they know there are things [...]

Continue reading " Women’s Perceptions of Their Most Serious Health Problems: Health Promotion Attitudes "