Abstract
Aims. To evaluate the acceptability and impact of a pilot diabetes awareness and exercise programme in a mainly Polynesian workforce. Method. Comparison of change in questionnaire and anthropometric measurements in two hospital ancillary workforces. One group (n=108) received one community diabetes educator presentation, one video presentation and a 4 month exercise programme. The other group (n=99) served as controls. Results. Baseline diabetes knowledge was poor (total score 26 (SD 13%)) and subjects were largely unfit with a high body mass index (31.5 (7.1) kg/m-2). The exercise sessions were well attended, although attendance declined over the 4 months. Increased diabetes knowledge was retained in the intervention group after 6 months when compared with controls (total score 35 (14) % vs 26 (12) % respectively, p < 0.001). One month after the termination of the programme, the proportion reporting regular exercise activity (at least 30 minutes for 3 days per week) had increased by 2% in the intervention group but declined by 9% in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Diabetes knowledge and exercise can be increased in unfit subjects by the combination of culturally tailored exercise techniques and community diabetes educator/video presentations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 373-376 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | The New Zealand medical journal |
| Volume | 109 |
| Issue number | 1031 |
| Publication status | Published - 11 Oct 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |
