Highlights
- •There is a lack of data on Arab American diabetes perceptions.
- •Perceptions and cultural preferences will help develop culturally-specific programs.
- •Lifestyle interventions should address myths and folk remedies.
- •Interventions should incorporate cultural content and account for gender norms.
- •Family support and religious centers can enable cost-effective interventions.
Abstract
Aims
Culturally-specific lifestyle diabetes prevention programs require an assessment of
population disease perceptions and cultural influences on health beliefs and behaviors.
The primary objectives were to assess Arab Americans’ knowledge and perceptions of
diabetes and their preferences for a lifestyle intervention.
Methods
Sixty-nine self-identified Arab or Arab Americans ≥30 years of age and without diabetes
participated in 8 focus groups.
Results
Emerging themes from the data included myths about diabetes etiology, folk remedies,
and social stigma. The main barrier to healthcare was lack of health insurance and/or
cost of care. Intervention preferences included gender-specific exercise, group-delivered
education featuring religious ideology, inclusion of the family, and utilization of
community facilities.
Conclusion
Lifestyle interventions for Arab Americans need to address cultural preferences, diabetes
myths, and folk remedies. Interventions should incorporate Arabic cultural content
and gender-specific group education and exercise. Utilization of family support and
religious centers will enable culturally-acceptable and cost-effective interventions.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 23, 2016
Accepted:
July 10,
2016
Received in revised form:
June 20,
2016
Received:
February 16,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
