Challenges to participating in a lifestyle intervention program: The Native American Diabetes Project

PURPOSE his paper describes the factors that American Indian teachers in th e Native American Diabetes Project (NADP) reported affected participation i n the NADP lifestyle education sessions. METHODS A postsession exit interview was conducted with each of the 7 mento rs (teachers) of the NADP sessions. Interview questions addressed general p erceptions of the sessions, factors that Kept participants from coming to t he sessions, and attitudes toward diabetes and persons with diabetes. Inter views were transcribed and responses reflecting factors related to particip ation were marked and organized into tol.)ic areas. RESULTS Mentors reported a range of factors that affected participation in the sessions, such as conflicts with community activities and beliefs/attit udes about diabetes. The latter factor includes program Knowledge, recruitm ent methods, attitudes toward the program and beliefs about diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Asking community members what factors they believe affect parti cipation is an important component of increasing participation in community -based programs. Community members can provide a valuable personal perspect ive of actual and potential conflicts in the community.