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Cultural perspectives on diabetes in an Appalachian population
Shannon L Smith1, Irene A Tessaro
1Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. slsmith@wfubmc.edu
Objective:
To gain an understanding of cultural and socioeconomic forces that shape beliefs about diabetes and its self-management.
Methods:
Thirteen focus groups were conducted in community settings in West Virginia using a semistructured interview guide.
Results:
Diabetes is perceived as a relatively new disease. Self-management behaviors reflect a mixture of cultural beliefs and limited resources. Moral overtones stigmatize diabetes.
Conclusions:
Understanding patients' illness experiences from within their cultural framework is important for successful community programming regarding chronic disease management.
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