Barriers and enablers of people from ethnic minority groups to uptake and engagement with type 2 diabetes management programmes in the UK

Background/Aim: People from ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by diabetes-related co-morbidities. However, they are less likely to engage with type 2 diabetes self-management interventions. There are few data available to improve uptake and engagement with UK-commissioned self-management programmes for type 2 diabetes. We aimed to explore the barriers and enablers to uptake and engagement in type 2 diabetes self-management interventions from the perspective of adults from ethnic minority groups.

Methods: A steering committee of professional and lay members was convened who advised on the design and conduct of a qualitative study involving people with type 2 diabetes from ethnic minority groups in community settings. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Twelve interviews with people from ethnic minority groups generated five themes. Barriers included stigma surrounding type 2 diabetes in the community; intervention content inconsistent with culture, information needs and preferences of people from ethnic minority groups; health taking less priority than family and work commitments; and perceived lack of cultural awareness of interventionists. Enablers, which were not currently being implemented included provision of culturally- and individually tailored community-based interventions; and community leaders promoting engagement with diabetes self-management interventions.

Conclusions: To promote future uptake and engagement of adults from ethnic minority groups in diabetes self-management, there is a pressing need to develop community-based interventions, which are endorsed/promoted by community leaders and delivered by culturally aware interventionists. Content should be consistent with the individual needs and preferences and address stigma around type 2 diabetes.