Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2024, 15(3):1177-1186 | DOI: 10.15452/cejnm.2024.15.0019

Between ‘there’ and ‘here’: individual perception of diabetes mellitus among post-Soviet immigrants in Germany

Sigrun Simolka1,2, Antoinette Conca3,4, Wilfried Schnepp4
1 Diabetes-Schwerpunktpraxis F. Mederacke / Dr. med. F. Graupner, Chemnitz, Germany
2 Department of Nursing Science, University of Applied Science Dresden, Dresden, Germany
3 Department of Clinical Nursing Research and Development, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
4 Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health, University of Witten / Herdecke, Witten, Germany

Aim: Individual experiences shape perceptions of illness. Post-Soviet migrants have different expectations of chronic disease treatment than German patients. This study aimed to delve into perceptions of diabetes mellitus, a topic of increasing importance in global migration.

Design: Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 post-Soviet migrants with diabetes and three Russian-speaking diabetes counselors, mainly recruited through a snowball system.

Methods: The research data were analyzed using a hermeneutic approach. The categories of the common-sense self-regulation model and developed subcategories were scrutinized by means of content analysis, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the data.

Results: The perception of diabetes mellitus varied depending on the country where the diagnosis was made. This included the individual recording of symptoms, the expected time course, and the allocation of different competencies. Opportunities for access to the local healthcare system in the former Soviet Union influenced these expectations.

Conclusion: The study's findings underscore the importance of healthcare access in the country of origin and the patient’s knowledge of diabetes mellitus in shaping their perception and treatment. These factors, influenced by the social environment and the patient’s level of education, continue to play a role even after immigration to Germany.

Keywords: communication, diabetes mellitus, perception, post-Soviet migrants, subjective theory of illness

Received: June 28, 2024; Revised: August 22, 2024; Accepted: September 4, 2024; Published: September 10, 2024  Show citation

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Simolka S, Conca A, Schnepp W. Between ‘there’ and ‘here’: individual perception of diabetes mellitus among post-Soviet immigrants in Germany. Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery. 2024;15(3):1177-1186. doi: 10.15452/cejnm.2024.15.0019.
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