Chronic Illness and Hmong Shamans

Bibliographic Data

ID19463201
AuthorsDeborah Helsel (0000-0002-6175-3693, California State University, Fresno), Marilyn Mochel (Healthy House Within a Multidisciplinary Approach to Cross-Cultural Heath Coalition), Robert Bauer (0000-0003-1034-2007, Healthy House Within a Multidisciplinary Approach to Cross-Cultural Heath Coalition)
Year2005
Volume16
Issue2
Pages150-154
Publication date2005-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Transcultural Nursing (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1043-6596 • E-ISSN: 1552-7832
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1043659604273553
PMID15764638
OpenAlexW2062005589
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited4

Among the challenges health care personnel in California’s central valley face has been finding ways to help Hmong Americans manage chronic illness. Interviews were conducted with 11 Hmong shamans diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension and were qualitatively analyzed to ascertain respondents’ understanding and management of their illnesses. Hmong shamans are influential individuals within their communities and are often the resource persons to whom patients turn for information on health. Understanding the shamans’ perspective on chronic illness was seen as a gateway to understanding how the broader Hmong American community perceived these conditions. The concept of chronic illness was not well understood, resulting in sporadic medication and dietary regimens, limited awareness of potential complications, and a persistent impression that these illnesses could be cured rather than managed. Suggestions for patient educators include family and community involvement in care regimens and the use of descriptive terminology to identify the disease

Chronic disease · Disease · Family medicine · Health care · Sociology of health and illness · Terminology · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Romani and Gypsy Studies · Gerontology

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