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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Stories for change: development of a diabetes digital storytelling intervention for refugees and immigrants to minnesota using qualitative methods

Authors: Jane W. Njeru, Christi A. Patten, Marcelo M. K. Hanza, Tabetha A. Brockman, Jennifer L. Ridgeway, Jennifer A. Weis, Matthew M. Clark, Miriam Goodson, Ahmed Osman, Graciela Porraz-Capetillo, Abdullah Hared, Allison Myers, Irene G. Sia, Mark L. Wieland

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Immigrants and refugees are affected by diabetes-related health disparities, with higher rates of incident diabetes and sub-optimal diabetes outcomes. Digital storytelling interventions for chronic diseases, such as diabetes may be especially powerful among immigrants because often limited English proficiency minimizes access to and affects the applicability of the existing health education opportunities. Community-based participatory research (CBPR), whereby community members and academia partner in an equitable relationship through all phases of the research, is an intuitive approach to develop these interventions. The main objective of this study was to develop a diabetes digital storytelling intervention with and for immigrant and refugee populations.

Methods

We used a CBPR approach to develop a diabetes digital storytelling intervention with and for immigrant and refugee Somali and Latino communities. Building on an established CBPR partnership, we conducted focus groups among community members with type II diabetes for a dual purpose: 1) to inform the intervention as it related to four domains of diabetes self-management (medication management, glucose self-monitoring, physical activity, and nutrition); 2) to identify champion storytellers for the intervention development. Eight participants attended a facilitated workshop for the creation of the digital stories.

Results

Each of the eight storytellers, from the Somali and Latino communities with diabetes (four from each group), created a powerful and compelling story about their struggles and accomplishments related to the four domains of diabetes self-management.

Conclusions

This report is on a systematic, participatory process for the successful development of a diabetes storytelling intervention for Somali and Latino adults. Processes and products from this work may inform the work of other CBPR partnerships.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Stories for change: development of a diabetes digital storytelling intervention for refugees and immigrants to minnesota using qualitative methods
Authors
Jane W. Njeru
Christi A. Patten
Marcelo M. K. Hanza
Tabetha A. Brockman
Jennifer L. Ridgeway
Jennifer A. Weis
Matthew M. Clark
Miriam Goodson
Ahmed Osman
Graciela Porraz-Capetillo
Abdullah Hared
Allison Myers
Irene G. Sia
Mark L. Wieland
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2628-y

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