Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Medicine, Barts, London, UK.
Proc Nutr Soc. 2011 Feb;70(1):129-34. doi: 10.1017/S0029665110004003. Epub 2010 Dec 14.
The British Bangladeshi community is one of the youngest and fastest growing ethnic minority groups in the UK. Many report poor socio-economic and health profiles with the existence of substantial health inequalities, particularly in relation to type 2 diabetes. Although there is compelling evidence for the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in the prevention of type 2 diabetes, there is little understanding of how best to tailor treatments to the needs of minority ethnic groups. Little is known about nutrition related lifestyle choices in the Bangladeshi community or the factors influencing such decisions. Only by exploring these factors will it be possible to design and tailor interventions appropriately. The Bangladeshi Initiative for the Prevention of Diabetes study explored lay beliefs and attitudes, religious teachings and professional perspectives in relation to diabetes prevention in the Bangladeshi community in Tower Hamlets, London. Contrary to the views of health professionals and previous research, poor knowledge was not the main barrier to healthy lifestyle choices. Rather the desire to comply with cultural norms, particularly those relating to hospitality, conflicted with efforts to implement healthy behaviours. Considerable support from Islamic teachings for diabetes prevention messages was provided by religious leaders, and faith may have an important role in supporting health promotion in this community. Some health professionals expressed outdated views on community attitudes and were concerned about their own limited cultural understanding. The potential for collaborative working between health educators and religious leaders should be explored further, and the cultural competence of health professionals addressed.
英国孟加拉裔社区是英国最年轻、增长最快的少数族裔群体之一。许多人报告说，他们的社会经济和健康状况较差，存在着巨大的健康不平等，特别是与 2 型糖尿病有关。尽管有大量证据表明生活方式干预在预防 2 型糖尿病方面的有效性，但对于如何最好地根据少数族裔群体的需求调整治疗方法知之甚少。对于孟加拉社区的与营养相关的生活方式选择或影响这些决策的因素知之甚少。只有通过探索这些因素，才能设计和调整干预措施。伦敦塔哈姆雷特的孟加拉裔预防糖尿病倡议研究探讨了与孟加拉社区糖尿病预防相关的一般观念和态度、宗教教义以及专业观点。与健康专业人员和先前的研究观点相反，不良的知识并不是健康生活方式选择的主要障碍。相反，遵守文化规范的愿望，特别是与好客有关的规范，与实施健康行为相冲突。宗教领袖为糖尿病预防信息提供了相当多的伊斯兰教教义支持，信仰可能在促进该社区的健康方面发挥重要作用。一些卫生专业人员对社区态度持过时的观点，并对他们自己有限的文化理解表示担忧。应该进一步探讨卫生教育工作者和宗教领袖之间的合作潜力，并解决卫生专业人员的文化能力问题。
