How do males of South Asian origin with long-term physical conditions understand, experience and seek help for emotional distress?

Awan, Hassan

Abstract

People with physical-mental comorbidity have a poorer quality of life, worse clinical outcomes and increased mortality than those with physical conditions alone. Those from some ethnic groups may be less likely to recognise and seek help for symptoms which may represent mental health problems, and are an under-served group within healthcare services. People of South Asian (SA) origin, are the largest minority group in the UK, and more likely to have long-term conditions (LTCs) such as diabetes and heart disease. There is little research specifically around SA men and emotional distress in the context of long-term conditions.

I am a SA General Practitioner (GP) researcher. I undertook a systematic review, synthesising studies that explored perceptions of emotional distress in SAs with long-term conditions. I undertook a qualitative study, interviewing 17 men of SA origin with LTCs on the experiences and help-seeking for emotional distress and 18 GPs. A patient advisory group of SA men was involved throughout the research.

Participants used various terms to describe ‘distress’. There was a complex relationship between physical health and emotional distress. Experiences of mistrust of GPs and trust in faith and family were described. Findings were then used to inform a conceptual model (The 3Cs) to understand emotional distress in men of SA origin with LTCs, Contextualising distress including the social determinants of distress, intersectionality, living with a LTC, Conceptualising distress including de-medicalising distress, negotiating multiple identities, alternative paradigms of health based on faith and culture, and Co-navigating care, including cultural health capital, cultural safety and professional development.

The research findings have impacted my clinical practice and have the potential to impact others, including patients and clinicians, policy-makers and commissioners, by enhancing our understanding of the challenges and opportunities in providing and commissioning care that respects the diverse health beliefs of the SA population.

Citation

Awan, H. (2024). How do males of South Asian origin with long-term physical conditions understand, experience and seek help for emotional distress?. (Thesis). Keele University. Retrieved from https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/849807

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jun 13, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 20, 2024
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/849807
• Award Date: 2024-06