Efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in controlling type 2 diabetes in patients of African descent: A systematic review

Takira Glasgow, Liz Cheek, Naji Tabet

Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK.
Postgraduate Medicine, Division of Medical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.

DOI: 10.4236/jbise.2013.65A007                

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to systematically assess the potential effectiveness of targeted educational and other non-pharmacological interventions on diabetes control in populations of African descent in developed countries. Such information can inform intervention strategies and highlight evidence-based approaches to deal with this significant problem in this population. Methods: A systematic review and a meta-analysis of random controlled trials and cohort studies evaluating the influence of education and other non-pharmacological interventions on HbA1Cconcentrations in patients of African descent with diabetes. A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, ZETOC, SIGLE databases was carried out. Results: Although nine studies (8 randomised controlled trials and 1 cohort study) met the inclusion criteria, relevant HbA1Cdata were available for 6 of the studies for the subsequent meta-analysis. Heterogeneity of meta-analysis was high (I² = 92%), the random effects pooled standard mean difference favoured the intervention -0.66 (-1.15, -0.17), p = 0.009. After sensitivity analysis, I² remained moderate to high at 69%. The random effects pooled standard mean difference continued to favour the intervention -0.48 (-0.81, -0.16), p = 0.009. Conclusion: There is evidence supporting the efficacy of educational and other non-pharmacological interventions in diabetes control in populations of African descent in English speaking developed countries. This conclusion is tempered by the significant heterogeneity of selected interventions and paucity of high quality research in the target population.

Keywords

Diabetes; Education; African Descent; Non-Pharmacological Intervention; HbA1C

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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