This reflection paper describes a scholarly activity in which the author participated in a community health workshop organized by a local Hindu/Sikh community at the Shri Durga Temple. The workshop provided basic health screenings and education targeting the Asian-American population, which faces disproportionately high risk for type 2 diabetes. Drawing on Hofstede's cultural dimensions model and transcultural nursing theory, the paper identifies the cultural factors that elevate health risks in this population and explains how culturally sensitive, evidence-based health education can mitigate those risks. The activity is presented as a meaningful opportunity for DNP-prepared nurses to apply evidence-based practice in a real-world community setting.
The scholarly activity I participated in was a workshop organized by the Hindu/Sikh community at the Shri Durga Temple. The purpose of the workshop was to provide basic health education and screenings, including cholesterol level checks, blood sugar level checks, blood pressure exams, BMI and weight measurements, free blood pressure monitoring, and a blood donation camp. The target population for the activity was the non-white, Asian-American community, which is at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, as several researchers have shown (Hsu, Araneta, Kanaya, Chiang, & Fujimoto, 2015; Islam et al., 2015). By providing health education to the Hindu/Sikh community — an Asian-American population at risk for developing type 2 diabetes — I was able to fulfill my mandate as a healthcare provider in terms of delivering preventive care to an at-risk population.
The Asian-American population is the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States, and it is also the group at greatest risk for developing type 2 diabetes compared to any other ethnic or minority population in the country. This elevated risk stems not only from the population's rapid growth in America, but also from the considerable cultural and environmental differences between Asian traditions and the American context. For instance, Hofstede (1984) notes in his model of cultural dimensions that there are six areas that distinguish different cultures from one another: Asian cultures differ from Western cultures in their attitudes toward long-term outlook, tolerance for ambiguity, equality, and other dimensions.
For these reasons, Asian Americans can struggle to find a healthy balance between Asian and American cultural inputs. They may not recognize the importance of a healthy diet or regular exercise in a country where so much emphasis is placed on leisure and wealth. A DNP-prepared nurse can develop awareness of the way culture impacts health literacy and health-seeking behavior by participating in this type of scholarly activity.
"Culturally oriented education to reduce type 2 diabetes risk"
"Real-world evidence-based practice and professional growth"
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