title: Aboriginal perspectives of diabetes in a remote community in the Northern Territory.
abstract: This study explores the knowledge and beliefs of diabetes in a group of Aboriginal people from a remote community in the Northern Territory. Information was gathered from participants through a combination of group discussions, semi-structured interviews and informal conversations. The four themes of explanation of diabetes were: worry, food, family and infections. The most common means of preventing or treating diabetes were stopping worry and changing one's diet. Significantly, few of the participants believed that medication was effective, and weight loss and exercise were not mentioned. The results highlight the miscommunication about diabetes that has occurred in this population. For effective communication and management of diabetes, health information must incorporate the contemporary health beliefs of the clients.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, United States, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: London
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guthridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015876:Northern Territory; D012423:Rural Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents