| Learning Objective #1: Describe the elements necessary to provide culturally sensitive care | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Discuss strategies to reduce health care disparity for evidence-based coordinated care |
Two hundred subjects will be randomly recruited and assigned to two groups based on age, gender, ethnicity, and length of time since diagnosis. The sample will be drawn to represent the hospital's current ethnic mix (30% African American, 30% Caucasian, 30% Hispanic, and 10% Other). For focused outcome measurements, diabetes patients will be recruited. The experimental group will be assessed with the refined CSC tool to understand patient's healthcare beliefs, practice, decision-making process, and their goal for hospitalization; and these elements will be integrated into an individualized coordinated care plan. The control group will receive the routine care. Inter-rater agreement for data collection using the refined CSC tool will be closely validated and established with the first 10 subjects by two raters to reach 90% agreement; and maintained with every tenth subject. Patients will be followed throughout their hospitalization and follow-up phone calls will be conducted 1 month after discharge.
Cultural awareness of health care providers will be assessed before and after implementation of the trial. Ethnic differences on patient outcomes between groups will be explored, including glycemic control, diabetic complications and symptoms, and health behaviors (exercise and diet). Care process and patient sense of participation and control over treatment goals for their hospital stay, and satisfaction will be compared. Future research can be designed to improve care outcomes for various ethnic groups based on this evidence from coordinated CSC.