•  
  •  
 

Keywords

Education; Diabetes; Latino; Internet

Disciplines

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | Endocrine System Diseases | Health Information Technology | Public Health

Abstract

Introduction: The internet offers an important avenue for developing diabetes self-management skills, but many Latinos have limited experience with computer-based instruction.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a web-based diabetes education program in a computer classroom for Spanish-speaking Latinos.

Methods: Spanish-speaking Latinos (n=26) attended two classroom sessions to learn computer skills while navigating a web-based diabetes education platform. Diabetes knowledge was assessed before and after the intervention; structured interviews were completed to assess program acceptability.

Results: Half of participants (50%) had not previously used a computer. Post-intervention, diabetes knowledge improved significantly (p=.001). The majority of participants (86%) indicated a preference for web-based instruction as a stand-alone program or as an adjunct to traditional classroom training, particularly citing the advantage of being able to engage the material at their own pace.

Conclusion: With limited support, Latinos with minimal computer experience can effectively engage in web-based diabetes education.


Share

COinS