GPH Biostatistics Consulting Lab - Project Description Guide

Background: describe the clinical context and the hypotheses that you are interested in testing.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects 425 million people worldwide, and minority populations often experience higher morbidity and mortality rates compared to their white counterparts.1,2 Effective management of T2D involves the consistent practice of self-management behaviors such as healthy eating, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, medication adherence, which are critical for treatment success.3 However, T2D self-management requires dedication, individual engagement, family support, and sufficient resources.4,5 Socio-economically disadvantaged populations and immigrants face significant challenges in adopting these behaviors. Few studies have examined the impact of social determinants of health on T2D self-management and glycemic indices (e.g., HbA1c levels, glucose variability from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)) among Haitian American immigrants, African Americans, and Asian American immigrants.

Endpoints: what do you want to measure that will enable you to evaluate your hypotheses.

To conduct a comparison study between Haitian American immigrants with T2D and other ethnic groups (African Americans and Asian American immigrants) using a cross-sectional correlation study design.

Study Aim and Objectives:

Primary Aim: To examine and compare associations between demographic, clinical diabetes self-management behaviors, and social determinants of health (SDOH) on glycemic indices among Haitian American immigrants, African Americans, and Asian Americans with T2D.

Secondary Objectives:

Identify differences in demographic characteristics and SDOH across the three groups.

Compare clinical diabetes self-management behaviors among the groups.

Evaluate the relationship between these variables and glycemic indices among the three groups.

Study design: Cross-sectional correlation study involving three ethnic groups.

Population: Define the population groups (Haitian American immigrants, African Americans, Asian Americans) and specify how each group’s data will be collected or accessed.

Data Collection Tools: Describe the tools and measures used to collect data for all variables. We’re covered for the Haitian American immigrant group.

Comparison Groups: Compare our findings for Haitian American immigrants with T2D with secondary data sources for African Americans and Asian American immigrants.

Feasible number of subjects: 81

Time frame: Will be based upon getting access to comparison group data

Pilot or published data on endpoints of interest that can inform the details of your design.

Any other details that are relevant: Conduct a thorough search for data on African Americans and Asian American immigrants.

Data analysis: if you have data already, describe what you have done, your findings, and. Have data on Haitian American immigrants- Conducting various data analyses

Any missing data: A few

Any unexpected problems with measurements. To be determined.

Data Collection for Comparison Groups:

Secondary Data Analysis:

Identify existing datasets (e.g., National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), All of US, other diabetes registries) that include data for African Americans and Asian American immigrants with T2D.

Ensure these datasets have comparable variables, such as demographics, clinical diabetes self-management behaviors, SDOH, and glycemic indices (e.g., HbA1c levels, glucose variability data from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM device).