Duke University Hospital, 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27710, United States.
Mutah University, Karak, Jordan.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2019 Apr;150:282-287. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.12.011. Epub 2019 Jan 8.
Little is known about the experience of Muslims with diabetes while fasting during Ramadan in the United States. Providing quality care for Muslim patients requires being aware of Islamic beliefs and practices, particularly in regard to healthcare ramifications. Therefore, the aims of this study were to (a) explore the beliefs which influence the experience and practices of diabetes management among Muslims in the United States during Ramadan, and (b) explore perspectives of Muslims with diabetes on their experience with healthcare providers providing support during their fasting experience.
Using an exploratory design, semi-structured interviews were conducted for qualitative analyses. A purposive sample of 14 Muslim patients with diabetes was recruited from mosques located across North Carolina.
Analyses revealed six subthemes on their "feelings" that were inherent to their experiences of managing diabetes while fasting during Ramadan. These were organized into two main themes: (1) having diabetes and fasting during Ramadan and (2) fasting challenges. Having diabetes and fasting during Ramadan focused on the experience of fasting and comprised four "feelings": (1) feeling spiritually connected, (2) feeling socially connected, (3) feeling physically healthy, and (4) feeling religiously obligated. The second theme focused on fasting challenges and included (1) feeling sick and dehydrated, and (2) feeling vulnerable and poorly understood by healthcare providers.
This is the first known study to explore the experience of Muslims with diabetes while fasting during Ramadan in the United States. Our findings offer important insights into how Muslims manage their diabetes while fasting and the missed opportunities for relevant conversations when partnering with healthcare providers during Ramadan. The importance of cultural competency across healthcare systems in the United States cannot be overemphasized. Healthcare providers need to hold conversations embracing shared decision-making to resolve healthcare dilemmas resulting from cultural differences, expand cultural knowledge, and adapt services to meet culturally-unique needs of their patients.
在美国，穆斯林在斋月期间封斋时，关于他们的糖尿病体验知之甚少。为穆斯林患者提供优质护理需要了解他们的宗教信仰和习俗，特别是在涉及医疗保健影响方面。因此，本研究的目的是：（a）探索影响美国穆斯林在斋月期间糖尿病管理体验和实践的信仰；（b）探索穆斯林糖尿病患者对其在禁食期间获得医疗保健提供者支持的体验的看法。
采用探索性设计，对 14 名来自北卡罗来纳州各地清真寺的穆斯林糖尿病患者进行了半结构化访谈，进行了定性分析。
分析揭示了他们在管理斋月期间糖尿病时的“感受”的六个子主题，这些主题是他们禁食体验的固有组成部分。这些主题分为两个主要主题：（1）患有糖尿病并在斋月期间禁食；（2）禁食挑战。患有糖尿病并在斋月期间禁食的主题侧重于禁食体验，包括四个“感受”：（1）精神上的联系；（2）社交上的联系；（3）身体健康；（4）宗教义务。第二个主题侧重于禁食挑战，包括（1）感到不适和脱水；（2）感到脆弱和未被医疗保健提供者理解。
这是第一项已知的在美国探索穆斯林糖尿病患者在斋月期间禁食体验的研究。我们的研究结果提供了重要的见解，了解了穆斯林在斋月期间如何管理他们的糖尿病，以及在与医疗保健提供者合作期间在斋月期间进行相关对话的机会。文化能力在整个美国医疗保健系统中的重要性怎么强调都不为过。医疗保健提供者需要进行对话，包括共同决策，以解决文化差异导致的医疗保健困境，扩大文化知识，并调整服务以满足患者独特的文化需求。
