| Summary: | <p>Background: Type 2 diabetes is a complex chronic condition. To achieve positive
outcomes patients must have an understanding of diabetes and self-efficacy to carry out self-management. Studies have shown that diabetes self-management education interventions positively affect physical and mental health outcomes, thereby improving the patient?s diabetes self-management.
Purpose: The purpose of this article was to determine if four diabetes self-management programs (DSMP) on the Island of Hawaii are providing competent care based on national standards of curriculum components, addressing mental health concerns affecting diabetes self-management, and providing culturally adapted care.
Methods: This study was carried out in three stages: 1) selecting programs for analysis; 2) comparing evaluated programs based on American Association of Diabetes Educators Self-care behaviors through the review of program manuals and supplemental materials; and 3) interviewing program directors.
Results: A review of community-based, self-management programs on Hawaii Island reveals that they provide competent care based on national Diabetes Self-Management Education standards. The reviewed programs appear to be successful and include culturally adapted education. However, assessments for mental health are not currently being used to assess a patient?s need for treatment of common mental health problems such as depression.
Conclusion: The current evidence of a connection between diabetes and depression indicates that DSMPs should assess for depression and provide effective treatment, especially for ethnic groups that have a high prevalence of diabetes and diabetes-related hospitalizations. More research is needed to determine how programs could better address culture and mental health concerns related to diabetes self-management education.
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