Graduate Program

Kinesiology and Sports Studies

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2007

Thesis Director

Jill Owen

Thesis Committee Member

Brian Pritschet

Thesis Committee Member

Dr. Walker

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a support group in a community Diabetes Prevention Program. The research questions to be answered were: (1) did participation in the intervention group result in better outcomes compared to the participants in the control group, (2) did the participants in the intervention group and the control group feel that the Diabetes Prevention Program's exercise program helped them make positive changes in their life and taught them the importance of continued exercise to help reduce the risk of diabetes according to statements answered on the survey, (3) did the participants in the intervention group and the control group feel that the Diabetes Prevention Program's educational lessons taught them how important educating themselves about diabetes and its effects are in preventing type 2 diabetes according to statements answered on the survey, (4) did the support group motivate its members to achieve their goals and continue pushing themselves throughout the entire program according to statements answered on the survey?

The second objective of this study was to examine the effect of compliance levels on outcomes. Compliance levels were determined by the number of exercise sessions each person attended. Specifically, do high levels of attendance (80% or more) during the exercise sessions result in better outcomes compared to those with moderate (58-75%) or low levels of attendance (52% or less)?

Seventy-nine participants from the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center's Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) were included in the study. The intervention group was comprised of 36 participants who attended the DPP and the voluntary support group. The remaining 43 participants formed the control group and participated in the DPP only.

The results from this study indicated that the intervention group had a significantly greater amount of weight loss than the control group. At three months, individuals with higher levels of compliance (80% or more) lost more weight than those with moderate (58-75%) and low (52% and less) levels of compliance.

The intervention group felt that they had learned more about the diabetes and the importance of taking action against it compared to the control group. The intervention group also confirmed that there were an appropriate number of support group meetings, which were beneficial in keeping them motivated and providing them with positive pressure to keep pushing themselves. The support group allowed the members of the intervention group to ask questions and discuss other health topics. The intervention group believed that they would not have been as motivated if the support group had not been offered.

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