Objective: To assess the challenges of managing diabetes experienced by clients of a community-based social services organization via qualitative interviews; to develop recommendations for more effective diabetes education programming at the organization based on themes identified in the interviews.
Methods: Staff at Progreso Latino in Central Falls recruited clients with diabetes and prediabetes to participate in interviews during the summer of 2019. Each interview used a structured question set and was conducted in the participant's preferred language of Spanish or English. Investigators analyzed the interview transcripts and identified predominant themes.
Results: Analysis of fourteen interviews yielded four predominant themes: uncertainty about diagnosis and treatment, fear as part of the discussion with providers, language barriers, and cultural barriers.
Conclusions: To strengthen diabetes education programming at a community-based organization, we recommend utilization of community health workers, development of culturally appropriate dietary recommendations, and creation of educational videos in clients' preferred languages.
Keywords: Spanish; community-based organization; diabetes; interview.