School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales Kensington Campus, Randwick, NSW 2052, Australia.
School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2750, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar 27;16(7):1100. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16071100.
Rates of diabetes are high in many communities of Pacific Island peoples, including people from Fiji. This qualitative study explores knowledge and attitudes towards diabetes among i-Taukei Fijians to facilitate the cultural tailoring of diabetes prevention and management programs for this community. Fijians aged 26 to 71 years (n = 15), residing in Australia, participated in semi-structured interviews; 53% (n = 8) were male. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, then thematically analyzed. Diabetes is recognized as an important and increasing health problem requiring action in the i-Taukei Fijian community. Widespread support for culturally appropriate lifestyle interventions utilizing existing societal structures, like family networks and church groups, was apparent. These structures were also seen as a crucial motivator for health action. Intervention content suggestions included diabetes risk awareness and education, as well as skills development to improve lifestyle behaviors. Leveraging existing social structures and both faith and family experiences of diabetes within the Fijian community may help convert increased awareness and understanding into lifestyle change. Ongoing in-community support to prevent and manage diabetes was also regarded as important. We recommend building upon experience from prior community-based interventions in other high-risk populations, alongside our findings, to assist in developing tailored diabetes programs for Fijians.
在许多太平洋岛民社区，包括斐济人，糖尿病的发病率都很高。这项定性研究旨在探讨 i-Taukei 斐济人对糖尿病的知识和态度，以便为该社区量身定制糖尿病预防和管理计划。参与半结构式访谈的是年龄在 26 至 71 岁之间（n = 15）、居住在澳大利亚的 i-Taukei 斐济人；其中 53%（n = 8）为男性。访谈进行了录音，并逐字转录，然后进行主题分析。糖尿病被认为是 i-Taukei 斐济人社区需要采取行动的一个重要且日益严重的健康问题。普遍支持利用现有的社会结构，如家庭网络和教会团体，进行文化上适当的生活方式干预。这些结构也被视为促进健康行动的关键因素。干预内容建议包括提高对糖尿病风险的认识和教育，以及培养改善生活方式行为的技能。利用斐济社区现有的社会结构以及信仰和家庭对糖尿病的经验，可能有助于将增加的认识和理解转化为生活方式的改变。社区内持续的支持来预防和管理糖尿病也被认为是很重要的。我们建议在其他高风险人群的社区为基础的干预经验的基础上，结合我们的研究结果，协助为斐济人制定有针对性的糖尿病计划。
