258409 Perceptions of Barriers in Managing Diabetes: Perspectives of Hispanic Immigrant Patients and Family Members

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Jie Hu, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Karen Amirehsani, PhD, FNP-BC , School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Debra Wallace, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, University of North Carolina - Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Susan Letvak, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Background: Hispanics show poorer self-management of type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites. Although previous studies of diabetes self-management in Hispanics have reported socioeconomic and cultural barriers to diabetes self-management, less is known about perceived barriers to diabetes self-management from the perspectives of both Hispanics and their family members. Thus, this study examined perceived barriers among Hispanic immigrants with diabetes and explored ways that their family members could provide support in managing diabetes.

Methods: A qualitative design using focus group interviews was conducted. A total of 36 Hispanic immigrants with type 2 diabetes and 36 family members were recruited in the southeastern United States for a family-based intervention study on diabetes-self management. Participants were asked to describe their perceptions of barriers to diabetes self-management. The 5 sessions were audiotaped and transcribed, translated from Spanish into English, and analyzed using standard content analysis. Demographics, hemoglobin A1C levels, blood pressure and BMI were obtained for both participants with diabetes and their family members.

Results: The perceived barriers to diabetes self-management identified from focus group discussions for participants with diabetes were categorized into three major themes: suffering from diabetes, difficulties in managing the disease, and lack of resources/support. Two key themes emerged pertaining specifically to family members: we can provide support and we lack knowledge.

Conclusions: Perceived barriers to diabetes self-management described by Hispanic immigrants with diabetes and family members indicate a lack of intervention strategies to meet their needs. Interventions should include culturally relevant resources, family support, and diabetes self-management skills education.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related nursing
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe barriers in managing diabetes among Hispanic immigrants with diabetes and their family members. 2. Discuss potential interventions needed to overcome identified barriers of diabetes management for Hispanic immigrants with diabetes and their families.

Keywords: Barriers to Care, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been actively engaged in data collection, content analysis, an manuscript writing on this federally funded health disparity focused research project. Additionally, I have worked as a health professional with the Hispanic population for more than 25 years aimed at improving their health outcomes.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.