Use of Focus Groups to Inform a Youth Diabetes Prevention Model

Objective: To explore minority adolescents' perceptions of their diabetes risk, barriers and facilitators to adopting lifestyle changes, and ideas for adapting a youth diabetes prevention model. Methods: The study was conducted at collaborating community sites in East Harlem, NY. Trained moderators facilitated focus groups, which were audio taped and transcribed. Participants were 21 Latino and African American adolescents aged 14-18 years with a family history of diabetes and no reported personal history of diabetes. The phenomenon of interest was youth input in adapting a diabetes prevention model. Two researchers independently coded transcripts, identified major themes, compared findings, and resolved differences through discussion and consensus. Results: Dominant themes included (1) the impact of diabetes on quality of life within adolescents' personal networks; (2) conflict between changing diet and activity and their current lifestyle; (3) lifestyle choices being dictated by cost, mood, body image, and environment, not health; and (4) family, social, and environmental pressures reinforcing sedentary behaviors and unhealthy diets. Conclusions and Implications: Themes from youth focus groups were framed in the context of an existing youth diabetes prevention conceptual model, with results informing expansion of the model and identification and organization of potential intervention components.