We′ve come this far by faith: Faith and spirituality as a facilitator to self-care management of type 2 diabetes among African-American men

Abstract

Purpose: To explore and understand how the church, faith, and spirituality plays a role in type 2 diabetes management among African-American men (AA men). Materials and Methods: Participants (n = 19) were AA men ages 35-69 years, who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Participants were recruited via community outreach efforts, including barbershops and churches located in predominantly African-American communities in southeast US. Upon the consent, individual interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and subsequently transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed using a phenomenological approach, and focused on identifying common themes among the descriptions of AA men′s experiences specific to type 2 diabetes. Results: Overall the participants from the present study stated that their faith in God as well as attending church does help them in their daily diabetes management. Interestingly, 2 of the 19 participants chose not to answer the faith and spirituality questions and 1 of the 19 stated that his faith was nonexistent. Conclusions: Diabetes self-management may be facilitated by incorporating the spiritual beliefs and virtues of AA men living with the illness. Little is still known, in general, about the process of how spirituality affects self-management of chronic illness. Further research should also focus on faith-based diabetes education among diabetics of all ethnic backgrounds.

African-American men - faith - self-management - spirituality - type 2 diabetes

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