Maryland Patients Learn Type 2 Diabetes Management With AHRQ's Videonovela "Aprende a Vivir"

Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic, a community clinic in Rockville, Maryland serving a large Hispanic population, uses AHRQ's three-episode Spanish-language videonovela “Aprende a Vivir (Learn to Live)” to help educate individuals about type 2 diabetes management.

Agnes Saenz, MS, Executive Director of Community Ministries of Rockville, the nonprofit organization that operates Kaseman Clinic, explains, “During the past few years, the Hispanic population in our community has increased significantly, and most of these immigrants are either uninsured or underinsured. Nearly 75 percent of Kaseman Clinic's patients have diabetes. This is an alarming statistic, and AHRQ's videonovela materials in Spanish help provide quality resources based on scientific evidence that support the clinic's health education programs and mission.”

Kaseman's Hispanic patient profile reflects the new community composition of Montgomery County. Historically, most of the clinic's Hispanic patients with diabetes were older than age 60 years, but with recent population growth dynamics, the patient base has shifted. Now most of the patients served are within the age range of 40 to 60 years. Overall, about 65 percent of the clinic's patients come from Latin American countries and are predominantly Spanish-speaking.

New patients generally have incomplete medical records or medical history when first visiting the clinic. For this reason, Kaseman Clinic's initial process involves a complete health assessment with the primary care doctor that includes laboratory tests to check cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Even if blood sugar test results are negative, the patient receives preventive diabetes education. If the blood sugar results are positive, some patients will start medication, while others are offered special diets and information about lifestyle changes to help control their blood sugar levels.

Cecilia Lopes, a bilingual medical assistant and health educator at Kaseman Clinic, says, “The videonovela is a helpful resource for our patients with diabetes because it mimics the reality of most of our patients and clearly explains important aspects about managing the condition. Patients identify with the story and the message comes across in a subtle manner. We provide each patient with the health information about type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and safe use of medication.”

As a subsidiary of the Community of Ministries of Rockville, Kaseman Clinic was established in 2009 to serve low-income, uninsured, and underinsured residents of Rockville and Montgomery County. The clinic offers primary care to 2,000 patients annually with the support of a physician, a nurse practitioner, one registered nurse, two medical assistants, a manager of health education and promotion, and a team of five health promoters. The clinic's services include comprehensive primary care, treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, health education, and social services. In addition to primary care, the clinic also offers in-house specialty care in podiatry, endocrinology, osteopathy, dermatology, and behavioral health services.