Diabetes Literacy and Self-efficacy Screening and Training Project (Diabetes LASST)

Type 2 diabetes is a national epidemic affecting an estimated 21 million individuals. The prevalence of diabetes among the Latina population is 1.7 times that of the majority population. The rapid growth of the Latino population suggests that the prevalence of diabetes will continue to rise in the next decades. The total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2007 was estimated to be $174 billion, with $27 billion spent on diabetes care, $58 billion for diabetes complications, and $31 billion for excess general medical costs. The primary objective of the Diabetes Literacy and Self-Efficacy Screening and Training Project (Diabetes LASST) is to test the efficacy of a community-based intervention to improve self-management, perceived self-efficacy, and clinical outcomes for diabetes. The secondary objective is to screen diabetics and a partnered family member who is at risk for diabetes and chronic kidney disease, as part of the care for diabetes. The specific aims are to: 1) test the efficacy of a Pharmacist-Centered Assessment and Reinforcement of Diabetes Self-efficacy (PARDS) intervention at improving diabetes health literacy for Latino diabetics and their family members, 2) promote positive changes in exercise and diet as measured by information in patient logs and follow-up sessions with a pharmacist and, 3) test the efficacy of PARDS at improving perceived self-efficacy and clinical outcomes for Latino diabetic participants.