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- Title
Falling into a deep dark hole: Tongan people's perceptions of being at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Authors
Faletau, Julienne; Nosa, Vili; Dobson, Rosie; Heather, Maryann; McCool, Judith
- Abstract
Background: Prediabetes is a precursor for type 2 diabetes. Compared to the New Zealand/European and other population groups (24.6%), the prevalence of prediabetes is higher within Pacific groups (29.8%). The diagnosis of prediabetes presents a potential opportunity to intervene to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes. Objective: To develop an understanding of how being 'at risk' of developing type 2 diabetes is perceived by Tongan people with prediabetes living in Auckland, New Zealand. Methods: The Kakala and Talanga Tongan methodologies underpinned this study. Twelve one‐on‐one, semi‐structured interviews with Tongan patients who had prediabetes from a primary health‐care clinic in Auckland, New Zealand, were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurrent themes from the data. Results: Participants were not aware of their prediabetes diagnosis, emotions associated with the diagnosis reflected fear and disbelief and a perception of imminent danger. Family history informed perceptions of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Participants could not differentiate prediabetes from type 2 diabetes, and recollections of being 'back in the Islands' of Tonga were consistent with healthy lifestyles. Conclusions: Prediabetes appeared to be poorly understood and was believed to be irreversible, which could discourage behaviour change, social and physical improvements in health. Appropriate culturally tailored messages to accompany a prediabetes diagnosis, including cause and management, would be beneficial for Pacific peoples.
- Subjects
OCEANIA; NEW Zealand; TYPE 2 diabetes &; psychology; ATTITUDE (Psychology); COGNITION; EMOTIONS; FEAR; HEALTH attitudes; INTERVIEWING; RESEARCH methodology; PREDIABETIC state; PRIMARY health care; RESEARCH funding; RISK perception; JUDGMENT sampling; THEMATIC analysis; LIFESTYLES; FAMILY history (Medicine); DATA analysis software; PATIENTS' attitudes; MEDICAL coding; ATTITUDES toward illness
- Publication
Health Expectations, 2020, Vol 23, Issue 4, p837
- ISSN
1369-6513
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/hex.13056