"It Feels Good to Know That Someone Cares".

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes is the leading cause of death in Hispanic communities. Self-management is an important part of diabetes care, and diabetes self-management education (DSME) aims to teach the skills necessary for preventing and delaying complication. However, DSME is underutilized. The purpose of this study was to explore Hispanic adults' motivations for attending a DSME class to identify effective strategies for promoting class participation and retention.

METHOD

Nineteen adults participated in seven focus groups conducted in Spanish. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated. Transcripts were content coded by two coders to create a thematic coding scheme.

RESULTS

Five main themes emerged as motivations for attendance: (1) frustration with physiological changes, (2) desire to "do better" because of family experience with death/complications from diabetes, (3) free access to information that is unattainable elsewhere, (3) a way to take control, and (4) group setting offered valued emotional and informational support as well as peer support for those who were uncomfortable discussing diabetes with family or lived with family who do not support lifestyle changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Gaining diabetes self-management knowledge only partly explains the perceived value of classes. Culturally relevant content and appealing to the social supportive aspects of groups may encourage participation.