Self-management, health service use and information seeking for diabetes care among Black Caribbean immigrants in Toronto.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research was to explore self-management practices and the use of diabetes information and care among Black-Caribbean immigrants with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
The study population included Black-Caribbean immigrants and Canadian-born participants between the ages of 35 to 64 years with type 2 diabetes. Study participants were recruited from community health centres (CHCs), diabetes education centres, hospital-based diabetes clinics, the Canadian Diabetes Association and immigrant-serving organizations. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographics and information related to diabetes status, self-management practices and the use of diabetes information and care.


RESULTS
Interviews were conducted with 48 Black-Caribbean immigrants and 54 Canadian-born participants with type 2 diabetes. Black-Caribbean immigrants were significantly more likely than the Canadian-born group to engage in recommended diabetes self-management practices (i.e. reduced fat diet, reduced carbohydrate diet, non-smoking and regular physical activity) and receive regular A1C and eye screening by a health professional. Black-Caribbean immigrant participants were significantly more likely to report receiving diabetes information and care through a community health centre (CHC) and nurses and dieticians than their Canadian-born counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
CHCs and allied health professionals play an important role in the management of diabetes in the Black-Caribbean immigrant community and may contribute to this group's favourable diabetes self-management profile and access to information and care. Additional research is necessary to confirm whether these findings are generalizable to the Black-Caribbean community in general (i.e. immigrant and non-immigrant) and to determine whether the use of CHCs and/or allied health professionals is associated with favourable outcomes in the Black-Caribbean immigrant community as well as others.
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: i.hyman@utoronto.ca.
Ilene
I
Hyman
Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Enza
E
Gucciardi
Steps to Equity, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Dianne
D
Patychuk
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Joanna Anneke
JA
Rummens
Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Yogendra
Y
Shakya
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Dragan
D
Kljujic
Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Mehreen
M
Bhamani
Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Fedaa
F
Boqaileh
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*
Black Caribbean; Caraïbes noirs; diabetes care; diabetes self-management practices; diabète de type 2; disparités raciales et ethniques; health services; immigrants; pratiques de prise en charge autonome du diabète; racial and ethnic disparities; type 2 diabetes