Diabetes: Using Lanaguage to Understand Meaning

PRESENTATION TYPE: Individual Paper

CATEGORY/THEME: Social and Environmental Determinates of Health

TITLE: Diabetes: Using Language to Understand Meaning

ABSTRACT BODY:

Introduction-Social variables influence quality of life of American Indian, African-American, and Hispanic population in rural, southeastern North Carolina, populations that lag behind the country and state in several key health indicators, infant mortality, life expectancy, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and incidence of obesity. The purpose of this interpretive research study was to understand the experiences with diabetes in these populations in a county with a minority, majority population. Becker’s Health Belief Model as modified by Pender which suggests that one’s belief in a personal threat (meaning) together with belief in the effectiveness of the proposed behavior will predict the likelihood of that behavior. The research question was: What do American Indians, African-American and Hispanics residents of Robeson County, North Carolina tell about their understanding of diabetes?

Methods- Using a multi-phase philosophical hermeneutic design, language used in the community is being collected and analyzed. This qualitative method posits that language reveals the meaning and the reality of the human experience (which can only be understood within historical, cultural context) and provides the bases for ideas and beliefs through which humans interpret and interact with the world to bring about change in health behaviors. Thus, understanding of the individual’s perception of a disease provides insight into influences the likelihood of taking recommended preventive health actions.

Oral accounts were gathered in focus groups/talking circles beginning in September, 2012 and will be completed in January, 2013.  Data are being gathered from a total of six talking circles: a multi-cultural pilot, two American Indian groups, two African American and one Hispanic group. These approximately sixty participants are being recruited by the snow ball method. After the data is reviewed and transcribed, working from their context as Lumbees, African-American and members of the community, the researchers interpret the texts to determine common and unique themes among these participants, leading to a better understanding of diabetes in the community and better care. Using the NVivo 10 software, each member of the research team reviews the data, identifying themes, terms and body language that indicate the participant understanding of diabetes. Each team selects text that represents meaning to them; then they review the selected sections together, seeking agreement on themes, terms and language.

Results and Conclusions-The initial data analyzes of the first group reveals four themes: 1) No internal control, 2) Mild words, Devastating outcomes 3), Distrust of Professional System,  and 4) Despair: No cure, no healing. As we are continuing with the data collection and analysis, we anticipate the reoccurrence of these themes and patterns.