Developing culturally adapted lifestyle interventions for South Asian migrant populations: a qualitative study of the key success factors and main challenges

• Published in: Public health (London) Vol. 161; pp. 50 - 58
• Main Authors: Terragni, L., Beune, E., Stronks, K., Davidson, E., Qureshi, S., Kumar, B., Diaz, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Asia - ethnology; Cooperation; Cultural adaptation; Cultural change; Cultural differences; Culturally Competent Care; Data processing; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Ethnic factors; Female; Grounded theory; Health Promotion - methods; Health Promotion - organization & administration; Health risks; High risk; Humans; Infectious diseases; Insight; Intervention; Key factors for success; Life Style; Lifestyle interventions; Lifestyles; Main challenges; Male; Middle Aged; Noncitizens; Population studies; Populations; Program Evaluation; Qualitative Research; Qualitative study; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research design; Social networks; Social organization; South Asian studies; South Asians; Success factors; Transients and Migrants - psychology; Transients and Migrants - statistics & numerical data; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Young Adult; Cultural adaptation; Key factors for success; Lifestyle interventions; Main challenges; South Asians; Qualitative study
• ISSN: 0033-3506; 1476-5616
• DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.04.008

South Asian migrant populations have a high risk of non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of this study is to provide in-depth insight into key success factors and challenges in developing culturally adapted lifestyle interventions to prevent T2D within South Asian migrant populations.
The study has a qualitative research design.
In-depth interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide, were conducted with eight researchers and project leaders from five studies of culturally adapted lifestyle interventions for South Asian migrant populations. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach.
Four main themes emerged as key factors for success: ‘approaching the community in the right way’, ‘the intervention as a space for social relations’, ‘support from public authorities’ and ‘being reflexive and flexible’. Two themes emerged as challenges: ‘struggling with time’ and ‘overemphasising cultural differences’.
Our findings augment existing research by establishing the importance of cooperation at the organisational and institutional levels, of fostering the creation of social networks through interventions and of acknowledging the multiplicity of identities and resources among individuals of the same ethnic origin.
•Support for cultural adaptation from public authorities is a key element of success.•Creation of social networks facilitates participation and sustainability.•Cultural adaptation of lifestyle interventions requires time and resources.•Addressing the multiplicity of identities within ethnic groups is challenging.