A Systematic Review of Culturally-Appropriate Population Strategies to Reduce Diabetes Burden among the Middle Eastern Population in New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Objectives: (1) Examine past and current risk reduction/awareness strategies implemented among Middle Eastern populations in Australia with a focus on New South Wales (NSW), (2) evaluate contributing risk factors between diabetes and the Middle Eastern nationality, and (3) propose new risk reduction/awareness strategies for diabetes in NSW, Australia with an emphasis on high prevalence areas. Research Design & Methods: A systematic review from freely available information from both literature and non-literature sources. Selected papers had to include interventions involving cultural aspects on lifestyle improvements. Outcomes included qualitative or quantitative reports of increased patient satisfaction, patient sense of self-management, weight-loss or changes in HbA1c. Studies included in this review had to (1) be from January 1995 onwards, (2) be carried out in Australia and (3) involve a Middle Eastern target audience. Five studies of pilot interventions in Australia involving culturally-specific means were identified and selected. Results: Five small-scale community programs using Middle Eastern-specific groups (involving dance, swimming, fitness or nutrition) were introduced with varying successes in different cohorts. One intervention reported changes in weight and waist circumference respectively whilst the remaining interventions were not appropriately followed up. Conclusion: Recruiting and training bilingual teachers can have clinically significant changes in weight scores in high-risk type II diabetes patients and weight reduction as well as increase overall patient knowledge. Further Australian trials including scale cohorts and higher quality end-point studies are encouraged in this area.