Research

Diabetes Peer Counseling Study

The specific aims of the study are:

To develop a comprehensive culturally tailored model of diabetes management that integrates the work of community-based peer counselors and clinical specialists into a multi-disciplinary health care team in order to directly respond to factors limiting successful diabetes management identified through an intensive needs assessment conducted in the Latino community.
To implement an intervention that provides education and support to Latino adults diagnosed with Type II diabetes in both clinical and home settings through a partnership between the Hispanic Health Council (HHC), Hartford Hospital and University of Connecticut (UConn).
To evaluate this intervention for its impact on program adherence, and improved outcomes sustained over time as reflected by clinical, cognitive and behavioral measures.
To modify the peer counseling service based on the evaluation, and implement it as a best practices model for diabetes management support of diabetic Latinos.

Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, University of Connecticut-Storrs, PI
Grace Damio, Hispanic Health Council, co-PI
Jyoti Chhabra, Hartford Hospital, co-PI