The proposed Center of Excellence on Diabetes in Americans of Mexican Descent aims to conductresearch on the physiologic progression to diabetes and its complications among Mexican Americans,and to develop diabetes prevention strategies and test innovative approaches to effective interventions ina minority population severely affected by type 2 diabetes. This Center proposes an administrative core, aresearch core including three research projects and two pilot studies, a training core and a communityengagement core.As part of the Research Core, the Tu Salud, jSi Cuenta!: A Community-Based Media Intervention forMexican Americans research project will test its effectiveness for modifying physical activity and healthy foodchoices, two underlying modifiable behaviors associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Population-basedstrategies to modify behaviors are needed in order to address the overwhelming numbers of peoplebecoming obese, particularly Mexican Americans. The use of mass media depicting attractive and influentialrole models (Behavioral Journalism) is a promising intervention method that has demonstrated positiveeffects. We propose a novel adaptation of a community-based media intervention for disadvantaged MexicanAmericans living along the US / Mexico border. The Tu Salud jSi Cuenta! (Your Health Matters!)intervention will provide behavioral journalism-formatted Spanish language information in mass mediavenues (TV and radio) and small media formats (newsletters) focusing on increasing physical activity andhealthful food choices. The media segments will be supported by community outreach and environmentalchanges. A quasi experimental matched community design will be implemented to assess outcomes amongone intervention community and one comparison community. Additionally, a longitudinal follow-up study willexamine outcomes among a cohort of Mexican Americans living in the intervention community. Theintervention is innovative in its use of behavioral journalism to create Spanish language messages and in itsassessment of behavioral and physiological outcomes.
Specific Aim #1 : Using a quasi-experimental matched community design, assess whether a communitybasedmedia intervention positively changes psychosocial, environmental, and behavioral risk factors fortype 2 diabetes among Mexican Americans.
Specific Aim #2 : Using a longitudinal follow-up study of participants in the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort,assess whether those who are most aware of the materials, messages and strategies of the interventionhave improved physiological profiles from baseline to follow-up, as well as positive changes in psychosocial,environmental, and behavioral risk factors for type 2 diabetes
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