Abstract
Immigrants show higher adjusted diabetes prevalence than Italians, especially among South-East Asians followed by North and Sub-Saharan Africans. Diabetes progression is influenced by food behaviors, and diet control is a critical aspect in disease management. Food habits have many cultural and symbolic implications. Guidelines recommend that every patient should receive appropriate self-management education according to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics. This study aims to test whether a customized diet and transcultural mediator’s support can improve immigrants’ food habits. A pre-post quali-quantitative study was conducted among 20–79-year-old Bangladeshi and North African diabetic immigrants. The INMP transcultural mediator, an expert in the social and health care field, actively participates in clinical activity by decoding linguistic and cultural needs expressed by the foreigner patient. Five culturally tailored dietary profiles were designed according to international diabetes guidelines and adjusted to traditional food habits. Data were collected with two different semi-structured questionnaires. Changes in food consumption were assessed through McNemar’s test, while paired Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was used to analyze pre and post intervention. Fifty-five patients were enrolled. At follow-up, cereals, meat, and potatoes intake significantly improved, and the number of adequate dietary habits for each patient increased significantly. Transcultural mediator support was 90% positively evaluated. Adherence to dietary control is favorably influenced by a transcultural intervention, which is based on clinical and socio-cultural criteria, in compliance with patient’s lifestyles.
Highlights
In 2019, the global international migrant population was around 272 million
Diabetes progression is influenced by food behaviors, and diet control is one of the most critical aspects of disease management [12,13,14]
Diabetic migrants were enrolled after written informed consent
Summary
In 2019, the global international migrant population was around 272 million. International migrants in Europe were about 82 million and in Italy around 6 million, representing 10% of the wholeItalian population [1]. In 2019, the global international migrant population was around 272 million. International migrants in Europe were about 82 million and in Italy around 6 million, representing 10% of the whole. The literature indicates a greater self-reported change in diet associated with deterioration in health with increasing length of stay [2]. Lack of employment, and negative self-perceived economic resources were conditions associated with the risk of hospitalization, longer hospital stay, and greater recourse to urgent hospitalization [3]. The increased migratory phenomenon created new challenges for health systems, which have to adapt to the needs of a multicultural society. World Health Organization (WHO) underlines the necessity
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