| Learning Objective #1: |
Objective: To report findings from an ongoing qualtitative study around the experience with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) within the Korean American Immigrant (KAI) community.
Design: A qualitative research design using focus groups is being utilized.
Population, Sample, Setting, Years: The samples are being recruited from the Baltimore Metropolitan Korean Senior Center, Korean churches and local clinics.. Four groups of 5-7 participants are being scheduled twice over a period of one month this Fall/Winter 2002-2003.
Variables Studied: The primary topics include the relevant themes and shared cultural understanding of health, perceptions of interventions used, barriers to care, management of DM, psychosocial aspects and correlates that underscore good DM management.
Methods: A total of four focus groups are now being developed; the selection of subjects will represent those subgroups of interest stratified by age and gender in order to facilitate ease of dialogue and tease out differences between age groups and gender.
Findings: Preliminary findings within the Korean American Elderly address the major barriers to receiving adequate health care or participating in health promotion activities. The barriers include 1) environmental barriers, including safety and access issues; 2) individual barriers, including language and feeling of intimidation of the Western health care system and; 3) psychologicial barriers, the loss of self-confidence, depression and conflict role reversal with regard to traditional family structure.
Conclusions: There are many barriers to effectively meeting the needs of KAI with DM. Further conclusions from the in-depth exploration of the DM experience will be presented.
Implications: The preliminary and future findings contribute to the development of culturally sensitive care nursing intervention programs, affecting not only disease management but self-confidence and dignity. Developing a culturally appropriate intervention has the potential to decrease the rates of morbidity and mortality related to DM.
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Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003