Health literacy enhanced intervention for inner-city African Americans with uncontrolled diabetes: a pilot study

Background Disparities in diagnosis and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus are most evident in African Americans (AAs) with lower socioeconomic status. Health literacy is an important predictor of adequate self-management and control of diabetes. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a health literacy-enhanced diabetes intervention, PLAN 4 Success (Prevention through Lifestyle intervention And Numeracy)-Diabetes, in inner-city, low-income AAs with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Methods Nineteen of 30 participants who completed the baseline survey received the study intervention which consisted of 4-week health literacy training and disease knowledge education followed by two home visits and monthly phone counseling for over 24 weeks. Results A retention rate of 58% was achieved at 24 weeks. All participants who completed the follow-up assessment at 24 weeks reported high satisfaction with the intervention. Participation in the PLAN 4 Success-Diabetes was associated with improved glucose control and psychological outcomes at 12 weeks but the positive trend was attenuated at 24 weeks. Conclusions The current intervention protocols were in general feasible and highly acceptable. The results support health literacy training as a promising component of interventions to promote glucose control among inner-city AAs. Some changes are suggested to optimize the protocols, before conducting a randomized controlled trial. Future interventions should consider addressing social determinants of health such as transportation as part of designing an intervention targeting low-income AAs with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.