Abstract
Aims and objectives. To explore the effects of type 2 diabetes on British-Pakistani women’s identity and its relationship with self-management.
Background. Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent and has worse outcomes among some ethnic minority groups. This may be due to poorer self-management and an inadequate match of health services to patient needs. The influence that type 2 diabetes has on British-Pakistani women’s identity and subsequent self-management has received limited attention.
Design. An explorative qualitative study.
Methods. Face-to-face semi-structured English and Urdu language interviews were conducted with a purposively selected heterogeneous sample of 15 British-Pakistani women with type 2 diabetes. Transcripts were analysed thematically.
Results. Four themes emerged: Perceived change in self emphasised how British-Pakistani women underwent a conscious adaptation of identity following diagnosis; Familiarity with ill health reflected women’s adjustment to their changed identity over time; Diagnosis improves social support enabled women to accept changes within themselves and Supporting family is a barrier to self-management demonstrated how family roles were an aspect of women’s identities that was resilient to change. The over-arching theme Role re-alignment enables successful self-management encapsulated how self-management was a continuous process where achievements needed to be sustained. Inter-generational differences were also noted: first generation women talked about challenges associated with ageing and co-morbidities; second generation women talked about familial and work roles competing with self-management.
Conclusions. The complex nature of British-Pakistani women’s self-identification requires consideration when planning and delivering healthcare.
Relevance to clinical practice. Culturally competent practice should recognise how generational status influences self-identity and diabetes self-management in ethnically diverse women. Health professionals should remain mindful of effective self-management occurring alongside, and being influenced by, other aspects of life.
Background. Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent and has worse outcomes among some ethnic minority groups. This may be due to poorer self-management and an inadequate match of health services to patient needs. The influence that type 2 diabetes has on British-Pakistani women’s identity and subsequent self-management has received limited attention.
Design. An explorative qualitative study.
Methods. Face-to-face semi-structured English and Urdu language interviews were conducted with a purposively selected heterogeneous sample of 15 British-Pakistani women with type 2 diabetes. Transcripts were analysed thematically.
Results. Four themes emerged: Perceived change in self emphasised how British-Pakistani women underwent a conscious adaptation of identity following diagnosis; Familiarity with ill health reflected women’s adjustment to their changed identity over time; Diagnosis improves social support enabled women to accept changes within themselves and Supporting family is a barrier to self-management demonstrated how family roles were an aspect of women’s identities that was resilient to change. The over-arching theme Role re-alignment enables successful self-management encapsulated how self-management was a continuous process where achievements needed to be sustained. Inter-generational differences were also noted: first generation women talked about challenges associated with ageing and co-morbidities; second generation women talked about familial and work roles competing with self-management.
Conclusions. The complex nature of British-Pakistani women’s self-identification requires consideration when planning and delivering healthcare.
Relevance to clinical practice. Culturally competent practice should recognise how generational status influences self-identity and diabetes self-management in ethnically diverse women. Health professionals should remain mindful of effective self-management occurring alongside, and being influenced by, other aspects of life.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2571–2580 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Nursing |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 17-18 |
Early online date | 22 Jun 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2015 |
Keywords
- ethnic minority
- selfmanagement
- Pakistani
- race
- immigrant
- identity
- ethnicity
- type 2 diabetes
- women