Objective This secondary analysis examined the relationships between Patient Activation Measure (PAM) scores, use of health services, and HgA1C. Design A feasibility study was conducted for a community‐based intervention for high‐risk adults with uncontrolled diabetes. Data were collected at baseline and monthly, including PAM and modified Diabetes Self‐Management Assessment Report Tool. Intervention Participants (n = 58) were randomized to a 3‐month nurse (RN) telephone management or community health worker (CHW) in‐home intervention, focusing on medication adherence, timely follow‐up, diabetes self‐management coaching, and linkage to resources. Results Sample was mostly female (73%), African‐American (90%), low income (75%), high school education or less (80%), and mean age of 59 years. A positive association between PAM score and self‐reported diabetes care recommendations was found (r = .356, p = .014) and significant correlation between baseline PAM score and HgA1C levels (r = −.306, p = .029). A paired samples t test showed statistically significant increases in PAM scores in the CHW intervention group (mean increase +8.5, CI [+2.49 to +14.65]); baseline (M = 60.31, SD = 13.3) to end of study ([M = 68.89, SD = 16.39], t(22) = 2.924, p = .008 [two‐tailed]). Conclusion A community‐based approach to diabetes management demonstrated a positive effect on patient activation. Although disparities in health care access among rural, low‐income populations exist, community‐based interventions show potential for improving patient engagement in diabetes management and recommended health services.

Despite notable progress being made in preventing child marriage, a significant proportion of women worldwide are still married before reaching adulthood. Though many aspects of child marriage have been widely studied, little is known on the later life health outcomes of child brides, let alone the critical need for healthcare during adulthood. This paper examines whether child brides at a young adult age bear a greater risk of high blood pressure (HBP) and high blood glucose (HBG) comorbidity than those who were married as adults. Using nationally representative data from India, we categorized married young adult (aged 20-34 years) women in four categories: neither HBP nor HBG, HBP only, HBG only, and both HBP and HBG. We estimated multinomial logistic regressions to obtain unadjusted and adjusted relative risk ratios in favor of these mutually exclusive outcomes for the child marriage indicator. Around 0.5% of the women in our sample had high blood pressure and high blood glucose comorbidity. While the prevalence of comorbidity was 0.4% among women who were married as adults, comorbidity was 40% higher (p < 0.000) among women who were married as children. The relative risk of the comorbidity among child brides was 1.4 (95%CI: 1.2–1.7) times that of their peers who were not married as children. The findings, thus, suggest that child brides at young adult age are at greater risk of having high blood pressure and high blood glucose comorbidity. Concerted public health efforts, therefore, are necessary to improve their long-term health and wellbeing.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of the spheres of influence on engagement in recommended diabetes preventive health services among rural, working adults. Additionally, this study sought to understand the unique factors that influence diabetes self-management among rural, working adult populations. The sample included mostly African-American, low-income females with self-reported diabetes, who scored low on the Patient Activation Measure (PAM-10). Semi-structured interviews (N = 20) revealed that most participants struggled with the “ups and downs” of living with diabetes. Four major themes emerged from the data: “the struggle,” “doing things together,” “diabetes is not the priority,” and “we’re lucky to have what we have.” Most participants were developing individual responsibility and motivation for a healthy future, but were overwhelmed by inconsistency in self-management, diabetes distress, lack of effective coping strategies, and lack of social and economic capital. The findings of this study indicate the need to further address psychological well-being among rural, working adults, yet rural populations often lack sufficient access to mental health care and formalized psychological support. Psychological support and resources are essential to facilitate engagement in diabetes self-management and preventive health services for rural, working adults.

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Persons with higher patient activation levels are more likely to engage in preventive health behaviors. This qualitative study addressed a population that may be particularly vulnerable to poor diabetes outcomes: rural, working adults with type 2 diabetes (T2 DM) with low levels of patient activation. This study sought to gain a better understanding of the individual, interpersonal, health system, and community spheres of influence on engagement in diabetes self-management and recommended preventive health services among rural, working adults. A socioecological approach, based on Fisher's (2005) Resources and Supports for Self-Management Model, guided the study. The Patient Activation Measure (PAM-10) was used to identify individuals with low patient activation. Participants (N = 20) had PAM-10 scores less than 75 (M = 59.4) and were predominately African American (n = 12) and female (n = 14), earning incomes less than $50,000 (n = 13). The overarching theme, "ups and downs" of living with diabetes, emerged from the data. Four other major themes emerged: "the struggle", "you don't talk about it", "diabetes is not the priority", and "we're lucky to have what we have". Most participants had social support, employer health benefits, and a trusting, satisfactory relationship with health care providers. However, a lack of equitable workplace and community resources may have contributed to lack of engagement in diabetes self-management and preventive health services.