Ethnic Disparity in Diabetes Self-Management Class Utilization, Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System 2012

We examined diabetes self-management class utilization in a study sample of adult BRFSS 2012 participants with diabetes (n=34,665).  This study assessed demographic variables that might be associated with class utilization, specifically sex, age, income, having health insurance (yes or no), and ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic) on diabetes self-management class utilization. Participation in diabetes self-management class was 53.8% overall. Male sex, age greater than 49 years, income <$25,000 per year, and lack of health insurance were each significantly associated with decreased class utilization.  Hispanics (n=2,962) were 43% less likely to have taken a class compared to non-Hispanics (n=31,703) (OR 0.57, CI:0.53-0.62, p<0.001) with 41.2% of Hispanics and 55% of non-Hispanics reporting that they had taken a diabetes self-management class.  This disparity remained after adjusting for sex, age, income, and health insurance (OR 0.60, CI:0.55-0.65, p<0.001). Efforts to enhance participation in diabetes self-management education are needed, particularly in Hispanic communities.