Experiences and cultural beliefs of patients with diabetes: Lessons for nursing practice, education and policy

Background: In Ghana, traditional management and care of patients with diabetes is concentrated on the physiological needs of patients to the detriment of psychosocial factors and cultural beliefs impacting the condition. Objectives: This paper explores the impact of cultural practices and beliefs o...

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Main Authors: Kwadwo Ameyaw Korsah, Sue Dyson, Denis Anthony
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-01-01
Series:International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139121001153
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author Kwadwo Ameyaw Korsah
Sue Dyson
Denis Anthony
author_facet Kwadwo Ameyaw Korsah
Sue Dyson
Denis Anthony
author_sort Kwadwo Ameyaw Korsah
collection DOAJ
description Background: In Ghana, traditional management and care of patients with diabetes is concentrated on the physiological needs of patients to the detriment of psychosocial factors and cultural beliefs impacting the condition. Objectives: This paper explores the impact of cultural practices and beliefs on the experiences of Ghanaian patients newly diagnosed with diabetes, and the implications for health care professionals providing diabetes care within Ghanaian health care settings. Method: The exploratory descriptive to qualitative approach was employed whereby 27 patients, newly diagnosed with diabetes, accessed via the diabetes clinic provided a convenience sample. Data were collected through one-on-one in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Findings: Four major themes were identified: (1) participants’ insight into diabetes mellitus (2) shared meanings attached to diabetes (3) coming to terms with a diagnosis of diabetes and (4) in search of treatment and ‘cure’. Conclusion: A model of care, which recognizes and prioritizes the psychosocial determinants of health alongside the medical aspects of the condition is thought to be beneficial to patients, to healthcare professionals, nurse educators, and to the Ghanaian public.
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spelling doaj.art-4471fdb16b10457c927917a3e1202aee2022-12-22T00:23:53ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences2214-13912022-01-0116100392Experiences and cultural beliefs of patients with diabetes: Lessons for nursing practice, education and policyKwadwo Ameyaw Korsah0Sue Dyson1Denis Anthony2School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG43, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Corresponding author.Health and Social Care Research Centre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE221 GB, UKHealth and Social Care Research Centre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE221 GB, UKBackground: In Ghana, traditional management and care of patients with diabetes is concentrated on the physiological needs of patients to the detriment of psychosocial factors and cultural beliefs impacting the condition. Objectives: This paper explores the impact of cultural practices and beliefs on the experiences of Ghanaian patients newly diagnosed with diabetes, and the implications for health care professionals providing diabetes care within Ghanaian health care settings. Method: The exploratory descriptive to qualitative approach was employed whereby 27 patients, newly diagnosed with diabetes, accessed via the diabetes clinic provided a convenience sample. Data were collected through one-on-one in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Findings: Four major themes were identified: (1) participants’ insight into diabetes mellitus (2) shared meanings attached to diabetes (3) coming to terms with a diagnosis of diabetes and (4) in search of treatment and ‘cure’. Conclusion: A model of care, which recognizes and prioritizes the psychosocial determinants of health alongside the medical aspects of the condition is thought to be beneficial to patients, to healthcare professionals, nurse educators, and to the Ghanaian public.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139121001153Cultural beliefsPhysiological needsDiabetes careQualitative investigationGhana
spellingShingle Kwadwo Ameyaw Korsah
Sue Dyson
Denis Anthony
Experiences and cultural beliefs of patients with diabetes: Lessons for nursing practice, education and policy
International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences
Cultural beliefs
Physiological needs
Diabetes care
Qualitative investigation
Ghana
title Experiences and cultural beliefs of patients with diabetes: Lessons for nursing practice, education and policy
title_full Experiences and cultural beliefs of patients with diabetes: Lessons for nursing practice, education and policy
title_fullStr Experiences and cultural beliefs of patients with diabetes: Lessons for nursing practice, education and policy
title_full_unstemmed Experiences and cultural beliefs of patients with diabetes: Lessons for nursing practice, education and policy
title_short Experiences and cultural beliefs of patients with diabetes: Lessons for nursing practice, education and policy
title_sort experiences and cultural beliefs of patients with diabetes lessons for nursing practice education and policy
topic Cultural beliefs
Physiological needs
Diabetes care
Qualitative investigation
Ghana
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139121001153
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AT suedyson experiencesandculturalbeliefsofpatientswithdiabeteslessonsfornursingpracticeeducationandpolicy
AT denisanthony experiencesandculturalbeliefsofpatientswithdiabeteslessonsfornursingpracticeeducationandpolicy