The meanings of diabetes, healthy lifestyle and barriers to healthy lifestyle among Filipino immigrants in the United States
- Author:
REIMUND SERAFICA
;
SUSAN HAYES LANE
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Filipinos
- MeSH:
Acculturation;
Healthy Lifestyle;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- From:
Philippine Journal of Nursing
2016;86(1):29-38
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, perception, and beliefs of newly
arrived Filipino immigrants regarding Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), healthy lifestyle,
and perceived barriers to healthy lifestyle.
This is a qualitative study. A sample (n=40) of newly-arrived (less than six years in United
States) first generation Filipino immigrants, not diagnosed with T2DM, living in
southeastern part of United States were the focus of the study. Face to face interviews
were conducted using an interview guide. No further interviews were conducted after data
were saturated. The data sources were field notes and audio-recorded interviews, which
were transcribed verbatim by the researcher. This study complied with the protocol for
human subjects’ protection as obtained from the institutional review board. Prior to analyses
of the transcripts, each transcript was read at least twice and compared to the recordings to
ensure accuracy and completeness. To ensure trustworthiness, selected transcripts were
reviewed and coded by two experience qualitative researchers to ensure inter-coder
reliability.
A significant number of the participants had little knowledge and few beliefs about T2DM.
The perceptions of T2DM were varied, but several beliefs were widely held: (a) T2DM is a
“sugar disease” that is based on sweet food intake, (b) participants were aiming to achieved
healthy lifestyles through diet, exercise and prayers and (c) T2DM can result from several
factors, including barriers to healthy lifestyle that includes stress, possible discrimination,
and not enough information to navigate health resources. Although immigration brings
opportunities, there are also numerous risks. Some of the diabetes beliefs that this study
delineates provide anchors for future culturally appropriate intervention programs for recent
Filipino immigrants. One of the major findings in this study was the low diabetes literacy
among the participants. Immigrants with low diabetes literacy may have lower awareness of
the disease condition, which may have a negative impact on their disease prevention
behaviors. Migratory background is also an important factor influencing beliefs about
disease prevention. These results provide information for the design of health programs for
the prevention of T2DM in the Philippines and United States.
- Full text:pjn 72.pdf
