Introduction & Objective: The prevention and control of diabetes is a significant public health issue in the U.S. Virgin Islands (VI). This study explored the barriers associated with uncontrolled diabetes among Federally Qualified Health center patients in the VI.
Methods: This study followed a case study method of qualitative inquiry. The novelty of this study lies in its exploration of a critical public health concern within a specific and often neglected subset of the U.S. healthcare system, the VI. Existing literature focusing on diabetes prevention and control in the VI is both infrequent and sparse. Subsequently, this study addressed a major gap in the literature, about the barriers associated with uncontrolled diabetes in the VI and particularly among health center patients.
Results: It found that the overarching barriers associated with uncontrolled diabetes among patients receiving care at health centers in the VI, from the patient, provider and executive director’s perspectives included the following: (1) the social determinants of health; (2) lack of family support; (3) lack of medication adherence; (4) culture; (5) lack of access to care; (6) mental and social issues; (7) lack of patient knowledge about diabetes, and (8) lack of exercise and inability to maintain a healthy diet.
Conclusion: This study had several implications for future research, for example it presented an opportunity to explore cultural factors and patient adherence to lifestyle measures; the use of naturopathic remedies in the treatment of diabetes and emergency preparedness related to hurricanes and its impact on patients with type 2 diabetes. There were also policy implications related to healthcare provider shortages, the use of community health workers in the support of patients with type 2 diabetes and the need for the establishment of standards of care for the treatment of patients with diabetes across the lifespan.
J. Sheen: None.
