Also indicated the Church may serve to overcome barriers to diabetes selfmanagement with group physical activities and health fairs, among other activities to promote health among its members. Published reports well document that church-based health programs may facilitate diabetes prevention or self-management behaviors, particularly diet and physical activity patterns with social support, encouragement, and accountability (Polzer-Casarez, 2010; Johnson, Elbert-Avila, Tulsky, 2005; Newlin, Dyess, Melkus et al 2012; Boltri, Davis-Smith, Zayas 2006). Church members indicated a desire to collaborate with trusted medical professionals in educating the community about diabetes. The study findings identified Christian worldview, medical distrust, self-management as predominant themes. Further research, including quantitative investigations, are indicated to better understand the relationships among these concepts and their relationships to diabetes outcomes. Also, given the findings of frequent church attendance, shared worldview, and commitment to primary and secondary prevention efforts, further research may examine churches as venues for combined diabetes prevention and self-management educational programs, particularly with PAR approaches. Additional research is needed to better understand the concept medical distrust among African Americans with or at-risk for diabetes.Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author ManuscriptStudy LimitationsIn the presented study, bias may limit interpretation of the findings. Data was generated from the African American churches as a unit through collective participation in the inquiry group process. As a result, censoring and conformity may have biased the data. Closely related, the phenomena of “groupthink” may have further biased the data. However, the longitudinal inquiry method, with prolonged engagement, likely promoted LCZ696MedChemExpress Valsartan/sacubitril person triangulation with ongoing church community validation of findings throughout the inquiry group process, thereby reducing error.ConclusionSampling two African American church communities, findings revealed their Christian worldview, medical distrust, endorsement of diabetes prevention and self-management behaviors, and collective desire to promote the health of fellow parishioners through healthrelated activities or programs. These findings contribute to the understudied domain of religious beliefs and practices, diabetes prevention and self-management behaviors, and diabetes community actions specifically in African American church populations. Uniquely,J Relig Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 June 01.Newlin Lew et al.Pagefindings contribute to understanding medical distrust in African American populations with or at-risk for T2D. The findings informed the development and implementation of combined diabetes prevention and self-management programs in partnership with church communities in accordance with a PAR approach. The sampled population’s voices affirm those of other African American’s as documented in previous qualitative studies. For nearly two decades, African American research participation has revealed this population’s overall high levels of religiosity. African American research participation has also provided multiple insights, through personal intimate accounts, on a Christian HIV-1 integrase inhibitor 2 chemical information worldview shared by many, and its relation to health, including diabetes outcomes. Yet, to date, the implications of this research have not been fully re.Also indicated the Church may serve to overcome barriers to diabetes selfmanagement with group physical activities and health fairs, among other activities to promote health among its members. Published reports well document that church-based health programs may facilitate diabetes prevention or self-management behaviors, particularly diet and physical activity patterns with social support, encouragement, and accountability (Polzer-Casarez, 2010; Johnson, Elbert-Avila, Tulsky, 2005; Newlin, Dyess, Melkus et al 2012; Boltri, Davis-Smith, Zayas 2006). Church members indicated a desire to collaborate with trusted medical professionals in educating the community about diabetes. The study findings identified Christian worldview, medical distrust, self-management as predominant themes. Further research, including quantitative investigations, are indicated to better understand the relationships among these concepts and their relationships to diabetes outcomes. Also, given the findings of frequent church attendance, shared worldview, and commitment to primary and secondary prevention efforts, further research may examine churches as venues for combined diabetes prevention and self-management educational programs, particularly with PAR approaches. Additional research is needed to better understand the concept medical distrust among African Americans with or at-risk for diabetes.Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author ManuscriptStudy LimitationsIn the presented study, bias may limit interpretation of the findings. Data was generated from the African American churches as a unit through collective participation in the inquiry group process. As a result, censoring and conformity may have biased the data. Closely related, the phenomena of “groupthink” may have further biased the data. However, the longitudinal inquiry method, with prolonged engagement, likely promoted person triangulation with ongoing church community validation of findings throughout the inquiry group process, thereby reducing error.ConclusionSampling two African American church communities, findings revealed their Christian worldview, medical distrust, endorsement of diabetes prevention and self-management behaviors, and collective desire to promote the health of fellow parishioners through healthrelated activities or programs. These findings contribute to the understudied domain of religious beliefs and practices, diabetes prevention and self-management behaviors, and diabetes community actions specifically in African American church populations. Uniquely,J Relig Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 June 01.Newlin Lew et al.Pagefindings contribute to understanding medical distrust in African American populations with or at-risk for T2D. The findings informed the development and implementation of combined diabetes prevention and self-management programs in partnership with church communities in accordance with a PAR approach. The sampled population’s voices affirm those of other African American’s as documented in previous qualitative studies. For nearly two decades, African American research participation has revealed this population’s overall high levels of religiosity. African American research participation has also provided multiple insights, through personal intimate accounts, on a Christian worldview shared by many, and its relation to health, including diabetes outcomes. Yet, to date, the implications of this research have not been fully re.