Participant experiences of Talking Circles on type 2 diabetes in two Northern Plains American Indian Tribes

Qual Health Res. 2003 Oct;13(8):1094-115. doi: 10.1177/1049732303256357.

Abstract

The Talking Circle, a culturally appropriate, 12-week educational intervention, was employed on two Northern Plains American Indian reservations to provide information on type 2 diabetes. In a phenomenological study, funded as a minority supplement to the Talking Circle intervention, the authors asked 8 American Indian participants of the Talking Circle to describe their experience of being an American Indian Talking Circle participant. Seven common themes describe the phenomenon of participating in a Talking Circle diabetic intervention. The Talking Circle technique was effective in providing information on type 2 diabetes through culturally appropriate community sharing. Type 2 diabetes is viewed by both outsiders and those involved as a chronic disease of the utmost concern in American Indian communities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / ethnology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / psychology*
  • Disease Management
  • Female
  • Group Processes*
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American / education
  • Indians, North American / psychology*
  • Male
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Middle Aged
  • Nebraska / epidemiology
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods*
  • Self Care
  • South Dakota / epidemiology