Barriers to Diabetes Management Among Hmong: Patients’ and Physicians’ Perspectives

Abstract

The Hmong, an ethnic group from Laos, have a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2 than non-Hispanic Whites, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese [1, 2, 3]. The Hmong immigrated to the United States after the Vietnam War and brought with them their practice of Shamanism and herbal medicine [8, 10]. Religious, cultural, and language differences are potential barriers to medical care for Hmong patients [10]. This qualitative study explored barriers to diabetes management among Hmong patients. We interviewed twenty-one Hmong patients and five physicians at a clinic in Sacramento, California. Patients and physicians agreed that culture, education, attitudes, and beliefs were major barriers. Findings from this study call for public health interventions to improve diabetes management among Hmong patients. Effective interventions may include a culturally and linguistically tailored education class, a community garden to promote exercise and healthy eating, a Hmong diabetic meal plan, and engagements between health centers and the Hmong community.

Keywords

• hmong
• diabetes
• barriers
• culture
• religion