Dr. Yolanda Robles

A third Cochrane review led by Dr. Yolanda Robles, an academic fellow at Cardiff University, focused on how the health of ethnic minority diabetes patients might improve if they were taught about the disease in their own language, "or by members of their community using health education materials that had been adapted to that community's cultural needs."

In a third Cochrane review, Yolanda Robles, Ph.D., an academic fellow at Cardiff University, and colleagues examined how the health of ethnic minority diabetes patients might improve if they were taught about the disease in their own language, “or by members of their community using health education materials that had been adapted to that community’s cultural needs,†Robles said.

"There is some evidence suggesting culturally tailored health education can improve some clinical outcomes in the short-term," co-author Dr. Yolanda Robles of Cardiff University the UK told Reuters Health. However, "further research is needed to assess long-term effects," Robles said.

In a third Cochrane review, Yolanda Robles, Ph.D., an academic fellow at Cardiff University, and colleagues examined how the health of ethnic minority diabetes patients might improve if they were taught about the disease in their own language, "or by members of their community using health education materials that had been adapted to that community's cultural needs," Robles said.

This "culturally appropriate" education, as the researchers called it, had a short-term effect of lowering blood glucose (sugar) levels, but none of the interventions included in the review lasted more than a year.In the 11 studies reviewed, combination education strategies seemed to have the greatest positive impact on the health of the 1,603 participants.

"However, it should be borne in mind that we still do not know the necessary dose of health education needed or the level of reinforcement of messages to ensure continued benefits," Robles cautioned.

"There is some evidence suggesting culturally tailored health education can improve some clinical outcomes in the short-term," co-author Dr. Yolanda Robles of Cardiff University the UK told Reuters Health.However, "further research is needed to assess long-term effects," Robles said.

Language and cultural barriers may hinder the delivery of quality diabetes health education to ethnic minorities, yet education is a vital aspect of diabetes care, Robles and colleagues report in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from The Cochrane Collaboration.
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These improvements, which were evident after 3 and 6 months, strengthen the concept "that health education should be couched in a learner-centered manner" while respecting religion, and social and cultural values, Robles and colleagues note.

However, "there is still need to assess long-term effects of interventions," Robles said.

"There is some evidence suggesting culturally tailored health education can improve some clinical outcomes in the short-term," co-author Dr. Yolanda Robles of Cardiff University the UK told Reuters Health. However, "further research is needed to assess long-term effects," Robles said.

Language and cultural barriers may hinder the delivery of quality diabetes health education to ethnic minorities, yet education is a vital aspect of diabetes care, Robles and colleagues report in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from The Cochrane Collaboration.