Tuesday, November 3, 2009: 3:25 PM
Loretta Heuer, PhD, RN, FAAN
Department of Practice and Role Development, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
Cheryl Lausch, MS, MA, RN
Nursing, Migrant Health Service, Inc, Moorhead, MN
Learning Objective 1: articulate the use of herbal medicine for the management of type 2 diabetes in the Mexican American migrant farmworker population.
Learning Objective 2: discuss the impact traditional herbal medicine has on their clinical practice when providing care and education to migrant farmworkers diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
For many generations, Mexican American populations have incorporated traditional health care practices for the treatment of various illnesses. Yet little research has been conducted on the traditional practices of the Mexican American migrant farmworkers who travel to the upper
Midwest for agricultural work. The first aim of this study explored the knowledge and use of herbal medicine in the farmworker population for the management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The second aim explored the knowledge base of Diabetes Lay Educators (DLEs) and Migrant Health nurses on herbal medicine use for the management of T2DM. Methodology included: 1) interviews with migrant farmworkers (n=34), DLEs (n=7), and nurses (n=11); 2) a specified literature search for herbal remedies and diabetes; and 3) internet search of the seven herbal remedies identified in the interviews. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative design involving secondary data sets, semi-structures interviews were analyzed for content. Co-investigators participated in the interviewing, data recording, and analysis process.
Three themes included: 1) Spectrum of herbal medicine use by farmworkers; 2) Shared knowledge of herbal medicine use by farmworkers and DLEs; and 3) Nurses’ knowledge of herbal medicine use by farmworkers for the management of T2DM. Given the significant short and long-term health risks associated with the use of some traditional medicines, providers need to have an awareness and knowledge base of herbal medicines. By establishing a trusting rapport with clients and taking time to inquire about the use of herbal medications, providers will be able to research the potential efficacy and drug interactions of these types of medications with prescribed pharmaceuticals. Finally through increased awareness and use ethnopharmocological literature, providers will able to develop an appropriate plan of care for the management of T2DM which will ultimately improve long-term treatment outcomes for the migrant population.
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