Using Focus Groups to Characterize the Health Beliefs and Practices of Black Women with Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

The purpose of this focus group intervention was to characterize the health beliefs, self-care practices, diabetes education needs, weight-loss issues, and facilitators and barriers to diabetes health care in black women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Major themes that emerged from the focus group were motivation to prevent complications, unrealistic weight goals set by providers, multiple barriers to diet and exercise, and a dual role of family as supporter and deterrent to diabetes management, especially related to diet. These findings suggest that culturally sensitive and appropriate patient educational programs must be provided for minority groups such as black women who have higher rates of diabetes-related complications.