ResearchHub Login
BCCHR Researchers Find a Researcher

Tricia S. Tang
Rpsych, PhD

Affiliate Investigator, BC Children's Hospital

My program of research focuses on diabetes prevention and control in ethnic minority, high risk, and medically underserved communities. Overwhelming evidence has demonstrated that participation in self-management interventions lead to improved diabetes-related health and psychosocial outcomes. However, in the absence of ongoing, long-term support, these improvements are short-lived (less than 6 months). My research team develops, implements, and evaluates sustainable and capacity building models to promote lifelong diabetes self-management efforts. Over the past 10 years, we have been investigating peer support as a promising model to improve diabetes care in economically disadvantaged or marginalized communities. These communities include African American and Latino adults in Detroit Michigan and South Asian adults in Vancouver, British Columbia. We have also initiated a peer support study recruiting newly diagnosed and complex patients from tertiary care settings. By drawing on community-based resources such as peer support, it is possible to implement diabetes prevention and self-management interventions in a cost-effective and practical way that can potentially lead to clinical and psychosocial benefits particularly for high risk and low-resource communities.

Academic Affiliations

  • Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Research Theme: Evidence to Innovation

Contact Information

Location

2775 Laurel St, BC Children's Hospital Rm 10211, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 1M9

(604) 875-4111

tricia.tang@vch.ca

12- and 18- month clinical and psychosocial outcomes from a community health worker and peer leader diabetes self-management program for Latino adults with diabetes: A randomized controlled effectiveness trial.

Diabetes Care

Assessing quality of life in diabetes: II " Deconstructing measures into a simple framework

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice

Tang TS, Yusuf FL, Polonsky WH, Fisher L. Assessing quality of life in diabetes: II"Deconstructing measures into a simple framework. diabetes research and clinical practice. 2017 Apr 1;126:286-302.

Examining the Support Peer Supporters Provide Using Structural Equation Modeling: Nondirective and Directive Support in Diabetes Management

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Kowitt SD, Ayala GX, Cherrington AL, Horton LA, Safford MM, Soto S, Tang TS, Fisher EB. Examining the support peer supporters provide using structural equation modeling: nondirective and directive support in diabetes management. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2017 Apr 17;51(6):810-21.

Diabetes Distress, Depression and Glycemic Control in a Canadian-Based Specialty Care Setting

Canadian Journal of Diabetes

Wong EM, Afshar R, Qian H, Zhang M, Elliott TG, Tang TS. Diabetes Distress, Depression and Glycemic Control in a Canadian-Based Specialty Care Setting. Canadian journal of diabetes. 2017 Aug 1;41(4):362-5.

When's dinner? Does timing of dinner affect the cardiometabolic risk profiles of South-Asian Canadians at risk for diabetes

Diabetic Medicine

Sandhu SK, Tang TS. When's dinner? Does timing of dinner affect the cardiometabolic risk profiles of South-Asian Canadians at risk for diabetes. Diabetic Medicine. 2017 Apr 1;34(4):539-42.

Recruitment and Retention of South Asian Ethnic Minority Populations in Behavioral Interventions to Improve Type 2 Diabetes Outcomes

Mahmood B, Afshar R, Tang TS. Recruitment and retention of south Asian ethnic minority populations in behavioral interventions to improve type 2 diabetes outcomes. Current diabetes reports. 2017 Apr 1;17(4):25.

Diabetes Nurse Case Management in a Canadian Tertiary Care Setting: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Canadian Journal of Diabetes

Li D, Elliott T, Klein G, Ur E, Tang TS. Diabetes Nurse Case Management in a Canadian Tertiary Care Setting: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Canadian journal of diabetes. 2017 Jun 1;41(3):297-304.

Using Exploratory Focus Groups to Inform the Development of a Peer-Supported Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program: DIRECTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention

Poureslami I, Camp P, Shum J, Afshar R, Tang T, FitzGerald JM. Using Exploratory Focus Groups to Inform the Development of a Peer-Supported Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program: DIRECTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH. Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention. 2017 Jan 1;37(1):57-64.

Diabetes Distress and Depression in South Asian Canadians with Type 2 Diabetes

Canadian Journal of Diabetes

Sidhu R, Tang TS. Diabetes distress and depression in South Asian Canadians with type 2 diabetes. Canadian journal of diabetes. 2017 Feb 1;41(1):69-72.

Assessing quality of life in diabetes: I. A practical guide to selecting the best instruments and using them wisely

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice

Fisher L, Tang T, Polonsky W. Assessing quality of life in diabetes: I. A practical guide to selecting the best instruments and using them wisely. diabetes research and clinical practice. 2017 Apr 1;126:278-85.

Immigration and dietary patterns in South Asian Canadians at risk for diabetes

Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications

Kandola K, Sandhu S, Tang T. Immigration and dietary patterns in South Asian Canadians at risk for diabetes. Journal of diabetes and its complications. 2016 Nov 1;30(8):1462-6.

Peer-Led, Empowerment-Based Approach to Self-Management Efforts in Diabetes (PLEASED): A Randomized Controlled Trial in an African American Community

Annals of Family Medicine

Tang TS, Funnell MM, Sinco B, Spencer MS, Heisler M. Peer-led, empowerment-based approach to self-management efforts in diabetes (PLEASED): a randomized controlled trial in an African American community. The Annals of Family Medicine. 2015 Aug 1;13(Suppl 1):S27-35.

08 / 2015

Rethinking peer support for diabetes in Vancouver's South-Asian community: a feasibility study

Diabetic Medicine

Tang TS, Sohal PS, Garg AK. Rethinking peer support for diabetes in Vancouver's South-Asian community: a feasibility study. Diabetic Medicine. 2015 Aug 1;32(8):1077-84.

Contributions of Peer Support to Health, Health Care, and Prevention: Papers from Peers for Progress.

The Annals of Family Medicine

Fisher EB, Ayala GX, Ibarra L, Cherrington AL, Elder JP, Tang TS, Heisler M, Safford MM, Simmons D. Contributions of peer support to health, health care, and prevention: Papers from peers for progress. The Annals of Family Medicine. 2015 Aug 1;13(Suppl 1):S2-8.

Comparative Effectiveness of Peer Leaders and Community Health Workers in Diabetes Self-management Support: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Diabetes Care

Tang TS, Funnell M, Sinco B, Piatt G, Palmisano G, Spencer MS, Kieffer EC, Heisler M. Comparative effectiveness of peer leaders and community health workers in diabetes self-management support: results of a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes care. 2014 Jun 1;37(6):1525-34.

06 / 2014

Impact of Patient Use of an Online Patient Portal on Diabetes Outcomes

Canadian Journal of Diabetes

Lau M, Campbell H, Tang T, Thompson DJ, Elliott T. Impact of patient use of an online patient portal on diabetes outcomes. Canadian journal of Diabetes. 2014 Feb 1;38(1):17-21.

02 / 2014

Outcomes of a Church-based Diabetes Prevention Program Delivered by Peers

The Diabetes Educator

Tang TS, Nwankwo R, Whiten Y, Oney C. Outcomes of a church-based diabetes prevention program delivered by peers: a feasibility study. The Diabetes Educator. 2014 Mar;40(2):223-30.

01 / 2014

Real-time continuous glucose monitoring versus internet-based blood glucose monitoring in adults with type 2 diabetes: A study of treatment satisfaction

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice

Tang TS, Digby EM, Wright AM, Chan JH, Mazanderani AB, Ross SA, Tildesley HG, Lee AM, White AS, Tildesley HD. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring versus internet-based blood glucose monitoring in adults with type 2 diabetes: a study of treatment satisfaction. Diabetes research and clinical practice. 2014 Dec 1;106(3):481-6.

Does a 2.5-year self-management education and support intervention change patterns of healthcare use in African-American adults with Type 2 diabetes?

Does a 2.5-year self-management education and support intervention change patterns of healthcare use in African-American adults with Type 2 diabetes?

Yeung RO, Oh M, Tang TS. Does a 2.5-year self-management education and support intervention change patterns of healthcare use in African-American adults with Type 2 diabetes?. Diabetic Medicine. 2014 Apr 1;31(4):472-6.

A Comparison of Internet Monitoring with Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Insulin-Requiring Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Canadian Journal of Diabetes

Tildesley HD, Wright AM, Chan JH, Mazanderani AB, Ross SA, Tildesley HG, Lee AM, Tang TS, White AS. A comparison of internet monitoring with continuous glucose monitoring in insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes mellitus. Canadian journal of diabetes. 2013 Oct 1;37(5):305-8.

Evaluating a diabetes self-management support peer leader training programme for the English- and Punjabi-speaking South-Asian community in Vancouver

Diabetic Medicine

Tang TS, Sohal PS, Garg AK. Evaluating a diabetes self-management support peer leader training programme for the English-and Punjabi-speaking South-Asian community in Vancouver. Diabetic Medicine. 2013 Jun 1;30(6):746-52.

Tailoring diabetes education and care to minority patients and families.

American Diabetes Association

Nwankwo, R. B., Tang, T. S. (2002). Tailoring diabetes education and care to minority patients and families. In Andersin BJ, Rubin RR (eds.): Practical Psychology for Diabetes Clinicians, 2nd Edition. Alexandria, Virginia, American Diabetes Association.

Related News

Every day, our researchers work towards breakthroughs to transform the lives of kids in BC and around the world. Learn about our latest innovations and advancements in child health.

bcchr news

Our Research

At BC Children’s, we are making discoveries that save lives and transform health care for children in our province and around the world. Our research portfolio includes basic, clinical, population, and public health research.

EXPLORE OUR RESEARCH

Stay in the Know

Sign up for compelling stories about innovative science, the doctors and researchers who turn ideas into discoveries and treatments, and the kids and families whose lives are changed.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

BC Children's Hospital Research Institute operates on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples — xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Further, this acknowledgement, gratitude, and respect extends to all of the First Nations communities on whose territories the Research Institute builds relationships and operates in British Columbia.

Contact

© 2026 BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. All rights reserved.

Crafted with by Forge and Smith

Our Research

Training

Services

Organization

Donate NowParticipate in ResearchResearchHub Login
BC Children's HospitalBC Children's Hospital Foundation