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A Demonstration of Peer Support for Ugandan Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

International Journal of Behavioral Medicine volume 22, pages 374–383 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

By 2030, 80 % of people with diabetes will be living in developing countries.

Purpose

The purpose of this pre-post quasi-experimental study was to test the feasibility of a peer intervention to improve the following: (1) diabetes self-care behaviors, (2) glycemic control, (3) social support and emotional well-being, (4) linkages to health care providers, and (5) to assess the sustainability of the intervention 18 months later.

Method

Participants were adults with type 2 diabetes who resided in rural Uganda. Participants (n = 46) attended a 1-day diabetes education program and agreed to make weekly contacts over 4 months with each other by phone or in person to assist with daily management, provide social and emotional support, and encourage appropriate contact with health care providers.

Results

Results indicated improvement in glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C), diastolic blood pressure, and eating behaviors.

Conclusions

A short-term peer support program was a feasible intervention to improve diabetes care in rural Uganda. Participants were successfully recruited and retained, and they experienced positive behavioral and physiologic outcomes. Elements of the intervention were sustained 18 months after the intervention.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by a grant from Peers for Progress, a program of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation supported by the Eli Lilly Company Foundation. We would like to thank US and Ugandan colleagues who helped to develop and deliver this intervention, especially Dory Blobner, RN, CDE, who provided expert clinical knowledge and experience in diabetes education in developing countries.

Ethical Standards

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

Conflict of Interest

Authors Linda C. Baumann, Nakwagala Frederick, Nankwanga Betty, Ejang Josephine, and Nambuya Agatha declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53792-2455, USA

    Linda C. Baumann

  2. Mulago National Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

    Nakwagala Frederick, Ejang Jospehine & Nambuya Agatha

  3. Mityana District Hospital, Mityana, Uganda

    Nankwanga Betty

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  1. Linda C. Baumann
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  2. Nakwagala Frederick
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  5. Nambuya Agatha
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Correspondence to Linda C. Baumann.

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Baumann, L.C., Frederick, N., Betty, N. et al. A Demonstration of Peer Support for Ugandan Adults With Type 2 Diabetes. Int.J. Behav. Med. 22, 374–383 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9412-8

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Keywords

  • Peer support
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Diabetes self-care