Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Mary Lou Gutierrez

Abstract

African American men are more likely to have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes than non-Hispanic White Americans and are less likely to adhere to treatment. Culture in the African American community plays a key role in how this community copes with illness and the health care system. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of social and cultural determinants of Type 2 diabetes self-management among African American men. Bandura's social cognitive theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. The research question sought to identify cultural and social factors that contribute or protect how African American men manage Type 2 diabetes. The study had a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach. A purposive sample of 11 African American men ages 48 to 76 with Type 2 diabetes volunteered to participate in in-depth interviews. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, inductively coded, and analyzed for emergent themes using NVivo 12 software. Thematic analyses led to the development of 8 themes and 8 subthemes. The lived experiences of the participants were classified into personal factors (self-efficacy, knowledge, outcomes, expectations, and attitudes); environmental factors (modeling, social norms, perceived support, facilitation, dietary choices, and accessibility); and behavioral factors, which differed in terms of consumption, goal setting, and behavior toward health care. Positive social change implications of the study may include further education on disease management, recommendations to healthcare professionals, community stakeholders, and African American families on specific factors that can enhance knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to improve management of Type 2 diabetes among African American men.

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