Diabetes Research Center
Health Service Access and Patient Satisfaction
Data analysis support and results interpretation will be provided to Dr. Tamis Bright from the Department of Endocrinology, TTUHSC at El Paso.
Purpose
The main goal of the study is to assess the distribution of known chronic disease risk factors among adult farm workers in El Paso County, acknowledge any chronic disease and implement a program of self management to the area farm worker. The study is designed to recruit adult migrant farm workers from the "Centro de los Trabajadores Agricolas Fronterizos" (Center for Migrant Farm Workers) and assess their risk factors for chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
El Paso Farm Workers
The farm workers of the El Paso Border Region work to pick the chili, onions and other goods grown in our area. These goods are grown in large scale quantities and may be distributed all over the United States. Farm workers work long hours under extremely strenuous conditions to get a paid a fraction of what the average El Pasoan earns. Many of our area farm workers may require medical care and not even know it.
Study Assessment
Farm workers will be interviewed and assessed anthropometrically for risk factors involving height, weight, hip/waist ratio as well as blood pressure measurements. Study participants will also undergo blood work and an ECG screening. Study results will be analyzed by principal investigators; Dr. Juan C. Zevallos, Director of the Diabetes Research Center, and Dr. W. Lee Hand, Assistant Dean for Research from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Study Intervention
Migrant Farm workers found to have a chronic disease will be referred to the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. This program was developed at Stanford University's Patient Education Research Center as a collaborative research project. Stanford University and the El Paso Diabetes Association, through funding from the Paso Del Norte Health Foundation, have partnered to bring this self-management program to local community health centers and/or trained agencies for the benefit of the El Paso community.
The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program will be taught at the "Centro de los Trabajadores Agricolas Fronterizos" (Center for Migrant Farm Workers) and a participating farm worker will voluntarily attend a six week course, meeting once a week, for 2 1/2 hours each session. This course is specifically for people with chronic disease and does not concentrate on any specific illness. Family members and caregivers of the farm workers will be encouraged to attend this valuable course as well.
Study Results
The 2003 study will be ongoing throughout the entire year during which time the health information of 500 area farm workers is expected to be collected and analyzed.
The 2001-2002 Study Results