Utilizing Genomics through Family Health History with the Theory of Planned Behavior: Prediction of Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors and Preventive Behavior in an African American Population in Florida

Abstract

Aim: African Americans are disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to assess to what extent African Americans' knowledge and awareness of family health history and related risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes influence their likelihood of adopting a preventive behavior. Methods: This study employed an anonymous pencil-and-paper, self-administered survey consisting of two sections. Section 1 was a modified version of the US Surgeon General's Family Health History Initiative and the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Risk Factor Survey. Section 2 of the survey was based on the constructs of the theory of planned behavior. Over 394 African American participants completed the survey. Results: ‘Perceived behavioral control' was the strongest predictor of ‘likelihood of adopting preventive behavior'. Participants were aware of their family history as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but it was not a significant predictor of behavior modifications based on that knowledge. Conclusion: The lack of perceived risk in this population shows the importance of not only knowing one's risk factors but translating those risk factors to a more personalized form that fits into the current lifestyle of the individual in a meaningful way.

ACE gene haplotypes and social networks: Using a biocultural framework to investigate blood pressure variation in African Americans

“…The argument often pits genetic and sociocultural risk factors against one another, although it is known that both types of factors impact complex diseases like hypertension. Genetic and sociocultural factors also impact family history of disease, which has been investigated as a factor in health-related behaviors in African Americans [ 45 ]. In this study, we integrate genetic and sociocultural data to create a more comprehensive model of blood pressure variation in African Americans.…”

Risk perception of developing diabetes: A concept analysis

“…Most publications reviewed for risk perception of developing diabetes did not provide a formal definition for risk perception or reference any theories (Table 3). Studies providing meager definitions for perceived diabetes risk used terminology previously presented in other uses of risk perception but added descriptions of attitudes or beliefs towards diabetes, a “mental model,” 29 p. 1051 or self‐assessed diabetes risk 30‐37 . Only one study provided a robust definition of risk perception as “a complex term with multiple dimensions,” 5 p. 2543 including the vulnerability to (probability of) diabetes, severity of diabetes, level of personal control, comparative risk perceptions of other diseases and environmental factors.…”

“…Only one study provided a robust definition of risk perception as “a complex term with multiple dimensions,” 5 p. 2543 including the vulnerability to (probability of) diabetes, severity of diabetes, level of personal control, comparative risk perceptions of other diseases and environmental factors. Studies referring to theories cited all theories discussed previously, with the addition of the Risk Perception Attitude Framework and Theory of Planned Behavior 30,31,35,38,39 …”

Perceived Risk of Developing Diabetes in the General Population and Asian Americans: Systematic Review

“…There were 11 quantitative studies and one mixed-method study (Kullgren et al, 2016). There were three randomized control trial (RCTs; (Dorman et al, 2012; Voils et al, 2015; Wu et al, 2017), and eight cross-sectional descriptive studies (Fukuoka et al, 2015; Joiner, Sternberg, Kennedy, Chen, et al, 2016; Joiner, Sternberg, Kennedy, Fukuoka, et al, 2016; Piccinino et al, 2015; Seaborn et al, 2016; Shaak et al, 2018; Simonds et al, 2017; Yang et al, 2018).…”

“…Five studies did not specify the percentage of Asian participants (Dorman et al, 2012; Kullgren et al, 2016; Piccinino et al, 2015; Shaak et al, 2018; Voils et al, 2015). Four studies had samples of a single racial or ethnic background—none of which were Asian (Joiner, Sternberg, Kennedy, Chen, et al, 2016; Joiner, Sternberg, Kennedy, Fukuoka, et al, 2016; Seaborn et al, 2016; Simonds et al, 2017).…”