Public Health for Preventing Diabetes in Maryland

Community Engagement

Q1

The chosen community engagement activity for the project is the Community Advisory Board (CAB). The board plays a crucial role in understanding the specific needs, preferences, practices, habits, and concerns of the African American community aged 18 and above in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The CAB will advocate and help the community members understand diabetes and how to reduce and prevent new cases. The board will also identify the community\'s needs concerning diabetes management and provide the necessary support to decrease diabetes cases. Additionally, the CAB will provide input on resources essential to reduce the new chances of diabetes among African American adults in Prince George\'s County. The target community for the project is African Americans aged 18 and above who reside in Prince George\'s County, Maryland. This population was selected because African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than other racial categories, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (American Diabetes Association, 2021). The community is a suburban area in the Washington Metropolitan area, with a total population of approximately 911,000 people as of 2020, with 61.2% of the total population being African American. The median age for the residents living in Prince George\'s County is 37.8 years young, and many African Americans living in the community use English as their first language. The project seeks to decrease new cases of diabetes among African American adults in Prince George\'s County, Maryland. Diabetes is recognized as an epidemic in the U.S., with over 37 million diagnosed with the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2021). Diabetes has been associated with a wide range of health complications, including blindness, kidney failure, stroke, heart disease, and lower-limb amputation. Recent studies have further established a link between this particular health condition and some types of cancer, hearing loss, and dementia. Diabetes impacts individual/familial well-being and could significantly burden entire healthcare systems. Persons diagnosed with diabetes incur approximately $9,601 in medical expenses per annum in the country, and persons diagnosed with diabetes are likely to incur medical expenses that are more than two times those incurred by persons who do not have the disease. In Maryland alone, diagnosed diabetes costs an estimated $7 billion yearly (American Diabetes Association, 2022). The project\'s duration is through December 2023, but the Community Advisory Board will be a continuous effort to engage with the community and provide support and advocacy. The activities will take place in Prince George\'s County, Maryland, specifically targeting the African American community aged 18 and above. The facilities to be used for the project are not specified, as the CAB can meet in a variety of locations that are convenient for the community members.

Q2

Recruiting participants for community engagement activities can be a challenging task, but partnering with community organizations can make the process easier (Butterfoss, 2006). For my project, I plan to work closely with community partners to recruit participants for the Community Advisory Board (CAB) in Prince George\'s County, Maryland.

One strategy I plan to use is to collaborate with local churches, community centers, and health clinics in the area to help spread the word about the CAB. I will reach out to these organizations and schedule meetings to discuss the project\'s details and how they can help identify individuals who would be interested in joining the board. During these meetings, I will provide brochures, flyers, and other informational materials that can be distributed to the organizations\' members and patients.

Another recruitment strategy I plan to use is to leverage social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These platforms can be an effective way to reach a large number of people in a short amount of time (Latha et al., 2020). I will create posts that describe the CAB\'s purpose and how individuals can get involved. I will also use hashtags relevant to the project and Prince George\'s County to increase the posts\' visibility.

In addition to these strategies, I plan to hold informational meetings and recruitment events in the community. These events will be held at local community centers, churches, and other public spaces. During the events, I will provide more details about the CAB and how individuals can join. I will also answer any questions that attendees may have. The idea will be to show how it is in the community’s best interest for us to work together.

Working with community partners is essential to the project\'s success as they can help identify individuals who would be interested in joining the CAB. By collaborating with community organizations, leveraging social media platforms, and holding recruitment events, I believe that we can successfully recruit a diverse group of participants who are passionate about decreasing diabetes cases among African American adults in Prince George\'s County.

Q3

There are several potential barriers to recruitment that could impact the success of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) project. One potential barrier could be a lack of awareness and interest in the project among the target community. Since the CAB will be focusing on diabetes prevention and management, some individuals may not see this as a pressing concern for themselves or their families.

Another potential barrier could be the sensitive nature of discussing health issues, especially in a public setting. Many individuals may feel uncomfortable sharing personal health information in a group setting, or may be hesitant to participate in discussions around diabetes management due to stigma or fear of judgment.

Partnering with trusted community organizations and leaders is a critical aspect of the recruitment strategy for the project. These partners can help to build trust and credibility with the target population, increasing the likelihood that community members will be willing to participate in the project. Local churches, community centers, and health clinics are potential partners because they are trusted institutions within the community and have established relationships with community members.

To leverage these partnerships, outreach efforts could involve distributing flyers and informational materials to these community partners, who can then disseminate the information to their members and networks. Hosting community events and workshops is another effective way to engage with community members and generate interest in the project. These events can be organized in collaboration with community partners and can feature educational sessions on diabetes prevention and management, as well as opportunities for participants to learn more about the project and how they can get involved.

In addition, it will be important to create a safe and supportive environment for participants to discuss sensitive health topics. This could include providing clear guidelines and expectations for the CAB meetings, such as confidentiality agreements and respectful communication protocols. Additionally, efforts could be made to build trust and rapport among participants, such as through icebreaker activities and team-building exercises.

Q4

To complete a community engagement project effectively, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of the community\'s culture, values, and challenges (World Health Organization, 2017). For this project, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the community\'s health concerns, social dynamics, and healthcare access barriers.

In this regard, the project team must be equipped with the necessary skills and experience to effectively engage and communicate with members of the target population. This includes having the ability to establish trust and build rapport with the community, which is critical to ensuring buy-in and participation in the project. The team must also have a strong background in health promotion, disease prevention, and community outreach, as well as expertise in project management and evaluation.

To complement the team\'s skills and experience, it is equally important to have strong partnerships with community organizations and leaders who have a deep understanding of the community\'s needs and resources. In this project, community partners could include local health clinics, community centers, and faith-based organizations. These partners can help provide insights into the community\'s culture and values, as well as help with the recruitment of participants and the dissemination of information about the project.

Ultimately, the project\'s success will depend on the team\'s ability to collaborate effectively with community partners and to engage community members in meaningful ways. By building trust and understanding the community\'s needs and resources, the team can ensure that the project is tailored to the community\'s unique context and is relevant to its members (Goforth et al., 2020). With a comprehensive understanding of the community and strong partnerships in place, the project team will be best poised to complete the project effectively and make a positive impact on the community\'s health and well-being.

Q5

The CAB that will be formed through this community engagement activity will be a crucial asset in identifying the specific needs and concerns of the African American community in Prince George\'s County related to diabetes prevention and management. The CAB will also provide valuable input on resources and support that are essential to reducing the incidence of diabetes in the community.

The work of the CAB will lay the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at addressing the issue of diabetes in the community. For example, the CAB could help to identify potential funding sources and resources to support the development of programs focused on diabetes education and prevention. The CAB could also play a key role in advocating for policy changes at the local, state, and national levels that could improve access to healthcare services and resources for members of the community affected by diabetes.

Additionally, the CAB could be used as a platform for ongoing community outreach and education initiatives focused on diabetes prevention and management. This could include regular meetings and workshops aimed at providing information and support to community members affected by diabetes, as well as ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the issue through social media and other channels.

The survey data collected through this engagement activity will also be valuable in informing future work in the community related to diabetes prevention and management. The results of the survey could be used to identify areas of the community where there is a particularly high incidence of diabetes, as well as to identify potential gaps in healthcare services and resources that need to be addressed. This information could then be used to inform the development of targeted programs and initiatives aimed at addressing these specific needs and concerns.

Q6

Ensuring standards of quality care and determining appropriate use of public health authority are two ethical challenges likely to be faced with this project (Baum et al., 2009). One ethical question inherent to my project is how to ensure community engagement is conducted in an equitable and inclusive manner. While community engagement is critical to understanding the specific needs and preferences of the African American community aged 18 and above in Prince George’s County, Maryland, there is a risk of excluding certain segments of the population from the project. This could lead to underrepresentation of certain perspectives and needs, which could undermine the effectiveness and relevance of the project. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the community engagement process is designed to be as inclusive as possible, with efforts made to reach out to and engage diverse voices and perspectives within the target population. This could involve working with community partners and leaders to identify potential barriers to participation and to develop strategies for overcoming them, such as providing translation services, ensuring accessibility, and offering incentives for participation.