Perspectivas en Nutrición Humana (Jun 2006)
Diabetes knowledge and physical activity increase through child to parent communication
Abstract
Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic condition that occurs when impaired insulin effectiveness (insulin resistance) is accompanied by the failure to produce sufficient b cell insulin. Type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically in children and adolescents. There is a clear association between diabetes and lifestyle (i.e. nutrition, obesity and physical activity). Objective: To increase participants’ knowledge about diabetes and the three keys to prevention: maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and eating a healthy diet. Other goals were increasing the physical activity (PA) of participants and determining if health messages delivered through child to parent communication were effective. Methods: The diabetes knowledge and physical activity intervention targeted 14 parents/guardians of second grade students. Once all baseline questionnaires were completed, a six week intervention utilizing one-page, colorful newsletters called «Pedometer Pete’s Diabetes Prevention ACTION PLAN.» The Action Plan newsletters were sent home on a weekly basis with the second grade students. Newsletters were sent home including directions for parents encouraging them to read and return them to their child’s teacher. Results: both pre and post questionnaires were completed by 14 subjects. Results from the intervention showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in total diabetes knowledge. There was a mean increase in the number of correct responses of 3.57 ± 3.20 from pre to post total diabetes knowledge scores. Results from the self-reported physical activity surveys showed a significant increase in moderate physical activity from a mean of 120 ± 64 to 234 ± 184(53) min/wk (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that a six-week intervention study utilizing brief one-page, double-sided newsletters was effective in increasing total diabetes knowledge, parental physical activity and family physical activity. These results support the use of child to parent communication in delivering health messages and promoting behavior changes.
