Interests and Preferences in Programs to Improve Health Among Men With or at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups, 2019.

Introduction: Men in racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely than non-Hispanic White men to participate in programs designed to improve health, despite having a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes. We sought to understand 1) the interests and preferences of racial and ethnic minority men, with or at risk for type 2 diabetes, in programs designed to improve health and 2) factors that influence participation and health practices.

Methods: We designed a 43-question web-based survey on facilitators and barriers to participation in a healthy living program. The survey was administered from August 27, 2019, through September 3, 2019. Our analytic sample consisted of 1,506 men at risk for or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in racial and ethnic minority groups. We conducted descriptive and regression analyses of survey data.

Results: Most men (59%) were interested in participating in a healthy living program and/or program elements such as incentives (67%), male-specific health topics (57%), and the inclusion of family (63%). Flexibility was important, since "exercising when it is convenient for me" was the most frequently selected facilitator of physical activity and "the hours were inconvenient" was identified as a challenge in previous programs. Men in this survey were significantly more likely to be interested in participating in a health improvement program for several reasons, including if they were physically active 150 minutes or more per week (vs not) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.6-3.0) and had previously been in a healthy living program (vs not) (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1).

Conclusion: Our findings can be useful for recruiting and retaining racial and ethnic minority men with or at risk for type 2 diabetes in programs designed to improve health and ultimately reduce disparities in the prevalence of diabetes.