A randomized, controlled trial of a stress management intervention for Latinos with type 2 diabetes delivered by community health workers: Outcomes for psychological wellbeing, glycemic control, and cortisol.

Aims: To test the efficacy of a community health worker (CHW) delivered stress management (SM) intervention on psychosocial, glycemic, and cortisol outcomes among U.S. Latinos with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial compared CHW-delivered diabetes education (DE; one group session) to DE plus CHW-delivered SM (DE+SM; 8 group sessions). Psychosocial variables and urinary cortisol were measured at baseline and posttreatment. HbA1c was measured at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up.

Results: In intent to treat analysis, compared to DE (n=46), DE+SM (n=61) showed significantly improved symptoms of depression, anxiety, and self-reported health status. There were no significant group effects for HbA1c, diabetes distress, or urinary cortisol. However, there was a dose response effect for HbA1c and diabetes distress; increasing attendance at SM sessions was associated with greater improvements in HbA1c and diabetes distress.

Conclusions: This is the first randomized, controlled trial demonstrating that CHWs can improve psychological symptoms and self-reported health among Latinos with type 2 diabetes. Efforts to increase intervention attendance may improve HbA1c and diabetes distress.