Older immigrant Sikh men's perspective of the challenges of managing coronary heart disease risk

Abstract

Background Gender and ethnocultural affiliation can have a significant impact on peoples’ beliefs about, and their capacity to manage, their health. We aimed to describe the gender- and ethnoculturally-based influences associated with the process that Sikh men undergo when faced with managing coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Methods This was a grounded theory study with 10 Sikh men. Data were collected through audio-taped semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using constant comparative methods. Results The core variable was ‘meeting the challenge’. There were three main phases that encompassed the process of managing CAD and its associated risks. These included: pre-diagnosis or event, the liminal (changing) self, and living with CAD. The most salient risk factors that Sikh men reported included ongoing stress, high levels of alcohol intake and reduced physical activity. The challenges to managing these risk factors included economically-driven change in status within the family, language barriers, and religious beliefs regarding destiny. Conclusions Older immigrant Sikh men may encounter difficulty accessing the healthcare system due to language barriers and religious beliefs, and they are disinclined to investigate the causes of their illness. Health-care providers, and those that create health policy, should work with the Sikh community to develop ethnoculturally sensitive care, and to develop resources to increase health promotion.