Dr. Kathleen Rayman

Associate Professor Dr. Kathleen Rayman, who has been with ETSU for eight years, is currently working on an ACTRID-funded preliminary study which describes the perceptions of African American women who have had diabetes education, and how education can be improved to be culturally appropriate.  This type of study is needed because most educational interventions have not included patient perspectives or cultural practices, and are not specific to women's needs or issues. The early part of this study focuses on describing cultural attitudes towards diabetes education and self-management.  Dr. Rayman is currently conducting the focus-group stage of this research, which she will present at the ETSU-sponsored Health Disparities conference at the end of June.  Her preliminary findings inform a model of diabetes education tailored to African American Appalachian women's needs and experiences. Dr. Rayman believes that culturally appropriate education and care are needed to influence self-care outcomes, prevent or delay complications, and promote health and well-being for women with diabetes.  The next step in this research is a pilot study of the education program.  In the upcoming months, Dr. Rayman will pursue more grant funding and test the intervention and education components of her work.

Much of Dr. Rayman’s career has centered on diabetes research and women.  She believes that community-based research is, “the most interesting type of research to do” because it allows her to interact with and understand her community, and also to tailor interventions and programs that influence women’s health and lives.  For more information on the progress of this study, Dr. Rayman’s other research interests, and her previous publications, please contact her at: raymank@etsu.edu.

Publications and Presentations

2006). Wishing for the Cure: the Experience of Non-Management Among Women with Type 2 Diabetes. Manuscript in preparation.

2007 November. Providers' Perspectives of Breast Cancer Care for Rural Appalachian Women. Presented at Sigma Theta Tau International.

2006 August. Building Community Capacity and Diabetes Care: the Process of Coalition Formation in Hispanic Appalachia. Presented at ETSU College of Nursing Faculty Research Forum.

2006 August. Developing a culturally appropriate model of Diabetes education for African American Appalachian Women. Presented at the Fourth Annual Faculty Research Forum.

2006 April. CHAS: A Working Coalition in Hispanic Appalachia. Paper presented at Twelfth Annual Qualitative Health Research Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.