Assessing transcultural attitudes towards diabetes in Trinidad.
The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to assess diabetic attitudes among adults living and working on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad. A convenience sample of 66 (N = 66) adult men and women of Afro-Trinidadian descent, of Indo-Trinidadian descent, and of mixed ethnicity completed the 33-item Diabetic Attitude Scale (DAS-3) with its five sub-scales. They were: (1) Need for special training in education, (2) Seriousness of Type 2 diabetes, (3) Value of tight glucose control, (4) Psychosocial impact of diabetes, and (5) Autonomy and patient attitudes. Self-Determination Theory guided the conceptual development of the study. Data analyses revealed a strong effect between need for special training and autonomy and patient attitudes. Strong correlations were also found between seriousness of the disease, value of tight glucose control, and psychosocial impact. Moderate correlations were found between the other variables of the sub-scales. Practical implications were discussed. Findings suggest the need for more appropriate educational and supportive interventions of an autonomous nature.
Johnson
Cynthia
C
School of Nursing, California State University, Dominguez Hills, 1000 Victoria Street, Carson, CA 90747, USA. cjohnson@csudh.edu
Whetstone
William R
WR
D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000379:methods; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology