Evaluation and Reflection Report

FAITH CHEMELI

A00054935

Assessment 4 HEC306

HANNAH RICHMOND

TORRENS UNIVERSITY

5/05/24

Evaluation and Reflection Report

Introduction

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a pressing global public health issue. According to Thomas (2023), It is a chronic condition characterized by the body’s inability to effectively use insulin, leading to elevated glucose levels in the blood. This condition poses a significant risk of severe health complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and vision problems. The prevalence of T2DM is rising, primarily influenced by modern lifestyle factors such as poor diet, insufficient physical activity, and obesity (Quigley etal., 2022).

In light of the escalating challenge of managing and preventing T2DM, our intervention, the “Diabetes Management and Prevention Program” (DMPP), was developed. This program is aimed at adults aged 30 to 60 years who are at high risk of developing T2DM due to factors like prediabetes, obesity, and a family history of diabetes. This demographic was selected based on evidence suggesting that early intervention in these risk groups can significantly reduce the onset of T2DM and manage existing conditions more effectively, offering hope in the fight against this disease (Xiang etal., 2021).

                                                                         Intervention communication plan

Target Audience

The primary target audience includes adults aged 45-64 in low-income communities who are at an elevated risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) due to poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, and lack of access to health resources.

Goals of the Intervention

To reduce T2DM Prevalence: Aim for a 20% reduction in T2DM cases within the target population over five years through education, lifestyle changes, and increased healthcare access. (Galaviz & Weber, 2018).

Improve Lifestyle Choices: Foster significant improvements in dietary habits and physical activity levels among the community members.

Proposed Health Intervention:

The “Healthy Choices, Healthy Lives” program is an evidence-based health intervention designed to address T2DM in the identified population. To ensure broad reach and engagement, the intervention will be communicated through multiple channels, including local community centers, schools, healthcare facilities, and social media platforms.

According to Sami (2017), by targeting the root causes and prioritizing the needs of the affected population, the “Healthy Choices, Healthy Lives” program aims to foster significant behavior changes, reduce the prevalence of T2DM, and improve the overall health and well-being of the community.

“The Healthy Choices Healthy  Lives” is a comprehensive, community-based initiative that integrates educational and practical components to encourage significant lifestyle modifications. The core elements of the intervention include:

Nutritional Education Workshops:

These workshops will educate participants on making healthier food choices that can naturally regulate blood glucose levels.

Physical Activity Sessions:

Regularly scheduled group exercises tailored to different fitness levels to improve physical health and enhance insulin sensitivity. (Colberg, 2016).

Regular Health Screenings:

Including blood glucose and HbA1c tests to monitor participant changes and progress.

Digital Support Platform:

An online resource providing ongoing support, educational materials, and a forum for participants to share experiences and motivate each other.

Evaluation Strategies for Outcome and Impact

The effectiveness of the T2DM intervention was measured using a combination of quantitative and qualitative evaluation strategies to assess changes in health behaviors, clinical outcomes, and participants’ engagement:

Clinical Measurements:

Pre- and post-intervention assessments included measuring fasting blood glucose, HbA1c levels, and body mass index (BMI) to track physical health improvements directly attributable to lifestyle changes (Bel etal., 2020).

Behavioral Surveys:

Surveys were distributed at the beginning and end of the program to evaluate changes in participants’ dietary habits, physical activity levels, and self-monitoring of blood glucose practices. The surveys helped quantify the behavioral adoption and adherence to recommended lifestyle modifications. (Ida, 2020).

Focus Groups and Interviews:

After the intervention, focus groups and individual interviews were conducted to gather in-depth insights about the participants’ experiences, barriers faced, and motivational factors. These qualitative data were crucial for understanding the context behind behavioral changes and evaluating the intervention’s emotional and psychosocial impact. (McLafferty, 2004).

Engagement Metrics:

To gauge engagement and interest in the intervention components, participation rates in workshops, log-ins to the digital platforms, and interaction rates with online content were tracked (Siopis etal., 2020).

Reflection on Communication and Presentation Style

Various communication methods were employed throughout the intervention to ensure clarity, relevance, and motivation. According to Furlur (2020), Educational materials were tailored to the literacy levels of the target audience, and motivational interviewing techniques were used to enhance participant engagement and empowerment.

Strengths:

A major strength was personalized communication, which adapts messages to meet individual needs based on their stage of behavior change and incorporates digital tools for reminders and educational content, allowing continuous engagement outside in-person sessions (Morton etal., 2022).

Weaknesses:

One observed area for improvement was the initial underestimation of the need for frequent, direct communication to reinforce behavior change. Additionally, managing significant group dynamics in workshops occasionally detracted from personalized interactions, suggesting a need for smaller breakout groups in future sessions (Romadlon etal., 2022).

Theoretical Integration

The intervention heavily incorporated elements from the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior:

Health Belief Model:

According to Hu and Fung( 2022), this model informed the development of messages that emphasized the severity of unmanaged diabetes and the benefits of lifestyle changes, aiming to enhance participants’ perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits.

Theory of Planned Behavior:

By addressing attitudes towards behavior change, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, the intervention helped shape positive behavioral intentions and supported translating these intentions into action (Krejany etal., 2021).

Conclusion

Reflecting on the process of planning and communicating the T2DM intervention, it becomes clear that successful health interventions require well-designed educational content and robust engagement strategies considering human behavior’s complexities. Evaluation strategies provided crucial insights into the intervention’s effectiveness and highlighted improvement areas. Moving forward, the focus will be refining communication techniques, enhancing the personalization of interventions, and using feedback mechanisms to continually adapt and improve health outcomes. This reflective process underscores the importance of a nuanced understanding of theory-based strategies to foster sustainable changes in health behavior, particularly for chronic conditions like T2DM.

References

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Furler, J., O’Neal, D., Speight, J., Blackberry, I., Manski-Nankervis, J. A., Thuraisingam, S., … & Best, J. (2020). Use of professional-mode flash glucose monitoring, at 3-month intervals, in adults with type 2 diabetes in general practice (GP-OSMOTIC): a pragmatic, open-label, 12-month, randomized controlled trial. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 8(1), 17–26.

Galaviz, K. I., Narayan, K. V., Lobelo, F., & Weber, M. B. (2018). Lifestyle and the prevention of type 2 diabetes: a status report. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 12(1), 4-20.

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