Cultural Barriers to Initiating Insulin Therapy in Chinese People With Type 2 Diabetes Living in Canada

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to determine some of the cultural barriers to initiating insulin therapy among Chinese individuals with type 2 diabetes living in Canada. METHOD: Data were collected using 5 intensive semi-structured interviews and subjected to framework analysis for emergent concepts and themes. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Subjects revealed barriers to accepting insulin therapy that were consistent with the general literature. However, these barriers were highly influenced by factors specific to the Chinese culture: associating injections with healthcare practitioners and disease severity; problems with translation between English and Chinese; distrust of Western medicine; and greater familiarity with/easier access to traditional Chinese medicine. CONCLUSIONS: Although this group shares many of the concerns of the general population with respect to insulin initiation, their attitudes are also uniquely shaped by their cultural experiences. A better understanding of the interplay between insulin therapy and cultural forces may help healthcare practitioners improve diabetes care and education for Chinese individuals living in Canada.