US Ethnic Group Differences in Family Member Support for People With Diabetes in the 2nd Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN2) Study:

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to describe the perceptions of family members (FM) and people with diabetes (PWD) regarding the frequency and helpfulness of FM support for PWD, including differences among US ethnic groups.MethodsThe US 2nd Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN2) substudy was a survey of independent samples of 238 adult FM and 540 adult PWD. Outcome measures included ratings by FM and PWD of the frequency and perceived helpfulness of 7 FM support behaviors and composite scores for frequency and helpfulness.ResultsRatings of individual FM support behaviors were strongly correlated between FM and PWD but significantly different among behaviors. FM and PWD reported most frequent support for listening, assisting, and doing activities with PWD and reporting PWD was doing poorly least frequently. Both groups reported listening, assisting, and reporting PWD was doing well as most helpful; reporting PWD was doing poorly was least helpful. PWD rated support and helpfulness of most behavior...