8.7.2 Coronary Heart Disease and Asian Indian migrants in Australia: Influence of Indian culture on experiences, knowledge, health beliefs and behaviours (170)
Shantala Mohan, Senior Research Officer, Clinical Nursing Research Unit, Nepean Hospital, POenrith, Australia. Co authors: Debra Jackson and Lesley Wilkes mohans@wahs.nsw.gov.au
Abstract:
Background:
Asian Indians are at an extremely high risk of coronary heart disease and this risk is exacerbated in migrant Indians globally. In order to provide culturally competent and sensitive care for migrant Asian Indians with coronary heart disease, it is vital to have a clear understanding of the impact of Indian culture on experiences, knowledge, health beliefs and behaviours.
Aims:
This study aims to report on the influence of Asian Indian culture on experiences, knowledge, health beliefs and behaviours in relation to coronary heart disease among Asian Indian migrants in Australia.
Methods:
Using the qualitative approach of constructivism, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight patients, five family members and 16 ‘healthy’ participants. Interview data were coded using NVivo and analysed for emerging categories and sub categories using a process of constant comparison of categories.
Results:
Through its fundamental principles of Dharma and Karma, Asian Indian culture had a major influence on health behaviour, beliefs, experiences and knowledge of coronary heart disease among Asian Indians. This study has revealed a strong sense of ‘Indian-ness’ amongst Asian Indians who consider their culture to be unique. With centrality of the family in Asian Indian culture, family needs outweighed health priorities.
Discussion and conclusion:
An unhealthy lifestyle perceived as the norm in Asian Indian culture was something difficult to change. This has implications for health education programs to provide a culturally sensitive approach in changing health behaviours that aims to reduce coronary heart disease risk among Asian Indians. With centrality of family in Asian Indian culture, family focussed approaches to health promotion are considered more effective in instigating changes in health behaviour. Given the major influence of Asian Indian culture on participants coronary heart disease trajectory, it is important for nurses to provide culturally sensitive care and advice for this group.
Source of Funding: N/A
Amount in Funding: N/A
Biography:
Professor Lesley Wilkes is currently Professor of Nursing at the Clinical Nursing Research Unit, Sydney West Area Health Service/University of Western Sydney and Dean of Research Studies at University of Western Sydney. Professor Wilkes is a prolific researcher with expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. She has contributed significantly to the growth and enhancement of nursing research in Australia. Professor Wilkes has to her credit a number of successful research grants (including NHMRC & ARC grants) with grant monies totalling over a million dollars. Research into ‘Cancer and Palliative Care’, ‘Chronic and Complex Care’ ‘Pastoral Care’, ‘Spiritual Needs of Families’, ‘Family Support in Health and Illness’, Dementia Care, ‘Adolescent Health, and ’ Professional Nursing forms the main focus of her nursing research program, in addition to other areas in nursing such as acute care, women and child’s health, and models of care delivery. Professor Wilkes has also published extensively in national and international peer reviewed journals and has presented at various conferences in Australia and worldwide. She has supervised a number of Masters and doctoral students to completion.