Abstract
Background and Purpose: Upon immigration to the US, the Hmong people transition to a more industrialized society which places them at an increased risk for diabetes. Hmong Americans are at increasing risk for developing diabetes. This article scopes research literature on the prevalence of diabetes and factors affecting diabetes care in the Hmong population. Methods: The literature was systematically scoped using four databases to search for studies examining factors that influence diabetes care in the Hmong. Results: A total of ten studies were retrieved. Key findings suggest that those living with diabetes have limited knowledge of the disease, and the Hmong possess cultural characteristics that ultimately affect diabetes care. Conclusion: This review revealed that there are limited published studies of diabetes in Hmong Americans and future research is needed to address these knowledge gaps in this population. Language, religion, and cultural beliefs are also significant factors to consider in diabetes care of the Hmong.
Highlights
In 2012, an estimated 29.1 million people in the United States (US) had diabetes, an increased figure from 2010 by 3.3 million (American Diabetes Association, 2014, a)
Abstract screening, and screening for the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles were identified for full text review, from which ten studies were selected for final analysis
This review reveals that the majority of Hmong participants could not verbalize the meaning of diabetes, some had no knowledge of the disease (Helsel et al, 2005; Perez & Cha, 2007; Xiong & Westberg, 2012), and some participants even expressed confusion as to when to take their medications (Helsel et al, 2005)
Summary
In 2012, an estimated 29.1 million people in the United States (US) had diabetes, an increased figure from 2010 by 3.3 million (American Diabetes Association, 2014, a). Thao and colleagues (2015) reported that the prevalence of diabetes in a sample of Hmong individuals living in Wisconsin was 3.3 times higher than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Hmong Americans are at increasing risk for developing diabetes. This article scopes research literature on the prevalence of diabetes and factors affecting diabetes care in the Hmong population. Methods: The literature was systematically scoped using four databases to search for studies examining factors that influence diabetes care in the Hmong. Key findings suggest that those living with diabetes have limited knowledge of the disease, and the Hmong possess cultural characteristics that affect diabetes care. Conclusion: This review revealed that there are limited published studies of diabetes in Hmong Americans and future research is needed to address these knowledge gaps in this population. Religion, and cultural beliefs are significant factors to consider in diabetes care of the Hmong
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