Outcomes of Culturally Tailored Dietary Intervention in the North African and Bangladeshi Diabetic Patients in Italy

Bibliographic Data

ID15495157
AuthorsLaura Piombo (National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP/NIHMP), 00153 Rome, Italy), Gianluca Nicolella (0000-0003-0420-8282, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP/NIHMP), 00153 Rome, Italy), Giulia Barbarossa (National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP/NIHMP), 00153 Rome, Italy), Claudio Tubili (Carlo Forlanini Hospital), Mayme Mary Pandolfo (Carlo Forlanini Hospital), Miriam Castaldo (0000-0003-3267-0765, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP/NIHMP), 00153 Rome, Italy), Gianfranco Costanzo (0000-0001-8726-7688, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP/NIHMP), 00153 Rome, Italy), Concetta Mirisola (National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP/NIHMP), 00153 Rome, Italy), Andrea Cavani (0000-0002-7157-6221, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP/NIHMP), 00153 Rome, Italy)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue23
Pages8932-8932
Publication date2020-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17238932
PMID33271775
OpenAlexW3106982150
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited41

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

Environmental health · Ethnic group · Family medicine · Geography · Immigration · Intervention (counseling · McNemar's test · Population · Socioeconomic status · Test (biology · Diabetes Management and Education · Medicine · Nursing · Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease · Obesity and Health Practices · Gerontology