title: Illness perceptions in Turkish migrants with diabetes: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Illness perceptions are usually conceptualized using the self-regulatory model of illness. Although a few examinations of illness perceptions among Turkish language populations exist, the validity of the self-regulatory model of illness has never been confirmed for this population group. The aim of our study was to explore the validity of the self-regulatory model of illness in chronically ill Turkish migrants residing in Germany using diabetes mellitus type 2 as an example.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Turkish migrants with self-reported diabetes who were recruited through key persons. The core aspects of the qualitative data were extracted through a hermeneutic approach. Subsequently, a system of categories and sub-categories was developed by means of content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven distinct core dimensions of illness perceptions, each with a different number of sub-domains, could be identified in the sample. They comprised the perceived timeline of diabetes, its consequences, its causes, its controllability as well as the identity/coherence and the emotional response with respect to the condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As regards the conceptualization of illness perceptions, the dimensions identified are in line with the self-regulatory model of illness. Addressing illness perceptions through tailored interventions may contribute to improving health care and health outcomes in Turkish migrants.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Yüce
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yilmaz-Aslan
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brzoska
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bluhm
authors.forename: Abdulselam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Razum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Turkish migrants; diabetes mellitus type 2; illness perceptions; qualitative