A pilot diabetes awareness and exercise programme in a multiethnic workforce
Simmons, D.; Fleming, C.; Cameron, M.; Leakehe, L.
New Zealand Medical Journal 109(1031): 373-376
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-8446 PMID: 8890876 Document Number: 463442
Aims. To evaluate the acceptability and impact of a pilot diabetes awareness and exercise programme in a mainly Polynesian workforce. Method. Comparison of change in questionnaire and anthropometric measurements in two hospital ancillary workforces. One group (n=108) received one community diabetes educator presentation, one video presentation and a 4 month exercise programme. The other group (n=99) served as controls. Results. Baseline diabetes knowledge was poor (total score 26 (SD 13%)) and subjects were largely unfit with a high body mass index (31.5 (7.1) kg/m-2). The exercise sessions were well attended, although attendance declined over the 4 months. Increased diabetes knowledge was retained in the intervention group after 6 months when compared with controls (total score 35 (14) % vs 26 (12) % respectively, p lt 0.001). One month after the termination of the programme, the proportion reporting regular exercise activity (at least 30 minutes for 3 days per week) had increased by 2% in the intervention group but declined by 9% in the control group (p lt 0.05). Conclusions. Diabetes knowledge and exercise can be increased in unfit subjects by the combination of culturally tailored exercise techniques and community diabetes educator/video presentations.