Appearance of Family Harmony: A Reconciling Between Individual and Collective Responsibility for the Care of Diabetes and Hypertension in Korean Americans

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Gina M. Pistulka, RN, MPH, PhD(c), Hyun Jeong Park, RN, MPH, CNP, and Miyong Kim, PhD. School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-614-5363, gpistulka@son.jhmi.edu

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) have disproportionately affected immigrant and ethnic minority populations in the United States, including Korean American immigrants (KAI), one of the fastest growing and understudied immigrant groups. Recent estimations of the prevalence of DM in KAI are 22.7% in males and 15.4% in females, surpassing rates in their white counterparts. Hypertension in KAI is growing even more rapidly with prevalence rate in ages 60-89 being 71%, regardless of their diabetes status, which has exceeded rates in the general populations of the United States. A qualitative approach was used to explore self-management patterns for DM and HTN in KAI in the Maryland region. Illness management in the United States has focused on individual responsibility for the prevention of costly complications. Traditionally, collectivism has been an important attribute of the KAI community. Within the context of DM and HTN management, both individual and collective values affect KAI's attempt to reconcile the issues of identity, religion, gender and family while sustaining appropriate care for themselves. Themes of personal and family responsibility, maintaining family equilibrium and at times, sacrificing health for the benefits of the family contribute important thought to prevention and intervention strategies that will address this health disparity in KAI.

Learning Objectives:

To understand the context of diabetes and hypertension for a Korean American immigrant community.
To understand the individual and collective responsibilities influencing care for diabetes and hypertension in a Korean American community.
To identify intervention strategies that will improve the health and wellbeing of Korean American immigrants with diabetes and hypertension.

Keywords: Asian Americans, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Commonalities and Differences in the Experiences of Diverse Immigrant Populations in the US, including those from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA