Using Focus Groups to Identify Psychosocial Issues of Urban Black Individuals With Diabetes

Abstract

The purpose of this focus group research was to identify issues that could serve as topics for a series of educational videos portraying psychosocial issues of urban black individuals with diabetes. Four focus groups involving 34 black adults were conducted in the Detroit area. Psychosocial issues were identified and rated in order of priority by an expert panel. The major psychosocial issues identified were the importance of food and eating in the black culture, the necessity for learning more about diabetes and its complications, learning to interact effectively with healthcare providers and systems, and the need for help and support in managing psychosocial issues related to diabetes. Black individuals with diabetes face unique psychosocial challenges. Focus groups are an effective method for obtaining relevant, culturally specific, in-depth information about living with diabetes from patients who are members of minority groups.

Development and validation of the convalescence and recovery evaluation (CARE) for measuring quality of life after surgery

“…Focus groups consisted of 7 patients derived from one of three surgical disciplines (including urology, general surgery and gynecology) as a convenience sample. Focus groups were conducted by an experienced facilitator who was responsible for creating a psychological climate that encouraged a frank discussion of the issues, [26] and who ensured that these were covered systematically and completely. [27] The groups addressed 5 key topics, including defining the concept of recovery, characterizing the symptoms of recovery, identifying barriers to recovery, outlining the effect of recovery on other aspects of life, and timing of recovery.…”

Group Education Strategies for Diabetes Self-Management

“…Finally, the three DSME programs in this article used culturally specific written and audio-visual materials that were designed and evaluated using community-based focus groups. 23 These materials included a set of videotaped vignettes portraying the challenges faced by African Americans with diabetes, ethnic food recipes, and a resource handbook.…”

Report of the Health Care Delivery Work Group

“…Reach to underserved and minority populations Traditional approaches to diabetes education and self-management support have been less effective at reaching and helping the most vulnerable segments of the diabetes population (55)(56)(57)(58). Many individuals with type 2 diabetes have never received any patient education (51,59,60).…”

“…Of even greater concern is that those who are older, are of lower socioeconomic and education levels, and are members of minority groups are the least likely to have received diabetes education. Among the reasons for these disparities is that of the many personal, logistical, social, and economic barriers to both recommended self-management practices and to participation in diabetes education that have been identified (61)(62)(63), almost all are greater among minority groups (56)(57)(58)(62)(63)(64).…”