title: Difficulties in health care for female Turkish immigrants with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study in Vienna.
abstract: According to studies, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMT2) is more commonly encountered among Turkish immigrants than resident populations in Europe and Turkish people living in Turkey. Within this context this study focused on female Turkish immigrants with DMT2 who are living in Vienna. The purpose of this study was to determine the needs, expectations, special conditions and cultural characteristics of Turkish women with DMT2 by gathering information about their own perceptions about DMT2, difficulties encountered during the diagnosis, treatment and their experiences living with the disease. A qualitative phenomenological design was utilized with a sample of 13 participants recruited from the Turkish mosques in Vienna. The interview guide, which included semi-structured questions, was based on previous studies conducted on DMT2 and immigration. Interviews were transcribed verbally from tape recordings, translated into German and each statement paraphrased for further analysis. The interviews indicated participants' degree of knowledge about DMT2 and was the most significant factor affecting approaches to the disease. The most important difficulty for the participants was the re-organization of nutritional habits to DMT2 because of the Turkish cuisine culture. The results of this study can be utilized by the health care providers to gain an understanding of Turkish immigrants and DMT2. Thus, it will enable them to adapt their health care and education to meet the needs of this population better.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Medical History and Ethic, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, University of Istanbul, Kocamustafapaşa Cd. No: 53 Cerrahpaşa, 34098, Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey. elifgultekin@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biyikli Gültekin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Female Turkish immigrants; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Vienna