Health beliefs among individuals at increased familial risk for type 2 diabetes: Implications for prevention

Janice S. Dorman, Rodolfo Valdez, Tiebin Liu, Catharine Wang, Wendy S. Rubinstein, Suzanne M. O'Neill, Louise S. Acheson, Mack T. Ruffin, Muin J. Khoury

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate perceived risk, control, worry, and severity about diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke among individuals at increased familial risk of diabetes. Methods: Data analyses were based on the Family Healthware™ Impact Trial. Baseline health beliefs were compared across three groups: (1) no family history of diabetes, CHD or stroke (n= 836), (2) family history of diabetes alone (n= 267), and (3) family history of diabetes and CHD and/or stroke (n= 978). Results: After adjusting for age, gender, race, education and BMI, scores for perceived risk for diabetes (p< 0.0001), CHD (p< 0.0001) and stroke (p< 0.0001) were lowest in Group 1 and highest in Group 3. Similar results were observed about worry for diabetes (p< 0.0001), CHD (p< 0.0001) and stroke (p< 0.0001). Perceptions of control or severity for diabetes, CHD or stroke did not vary across the three groups. Conclusions: Among individuals at increased familial risk for diabetes, having family members affected with CHD and/or stroke significantly influenced perceived risk and worry. Tailored lifestyle interventions for this group that assess health beliefs and emphasize approaches for preventing diabetes, as well as its vascular complications, may be an effective strategy for reducing the global burden of these serious but related chronic disorders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)156-162
Number of pages7
JournalDiabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Volume96
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Health beliefs among individuals at increased familial risk for type 2 diabetes: Implications for prevention'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this