RCMI Pilot Project- Brittany Singleton and Katrina Nguyen

Project title: : Pharmacists’ Delivery of Health Education to Prevent Diabetes in the New Orleans Hospitality Industry Workforce.

PI: Brittany Singleton and Katrina Nguyen

Email:bsingle2@xula.edu and knguye14@xula.edu

Project Summary :

Diabetes remains a pervasive public health challenge, contributing to serious comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and renal failure. While Type 2 diabetes prevalence has surged globally over the past three decades, prediabetes—a precursor condition affecting an estimated 98 million American adults—has emerged as an equally urgent concern. Alarmingly, nearly 80% of individuals with prediabetes are unaware of their condition. This issue is particularly acute in Louisiana, which consistently ranks among the top ten U.S. states for diabetes prevalence. In New Orleans, hospitality workers represent a large component of the population which may not access healthcare services.

This project aims to increase prediabetes awareness and prevent progression to Type 2 diabetes among hospitality workers in New Orleans through a pharmacist-led, workplace-based intervention. The study will integrate clinical screening, tailored education, wellness tools, and healthcare referrals to promote early detection and lifestyle modification. This initiative is distinguished by its use of clinical pharmacists in a workplace setting, directly addressing workers access to healthcare. The findings will enhance understanding of prediabetes prevalence in this population, validate screening tools, and inform scalable models for preventive care. Ultimately, this project seeks to empower high-risk individuals with knowledge, resources, and support to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.