Facilitators and barriers to healthy eating in aged chinese canadians with hypertension: A qualitative exploration

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the facilitators and barriers influencing healthy eating behaviouramong aged Chinese-Canadians with hypertension. Methods: After attending five weeks of dietareducational training (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension with Sodium (Na) Reduction foChinese Canadians; DASHNa-CC), 30 aged Chinese-Canadian participants partook in a telephoninterview. Participants were asked to name three facilitators and three barriers that influenced their ability to follow the DASHNa-CC intervention. Telephone transcripts were then analyzed and coded using computer software and categorized into personal, familial, community, and societafacilitators or barriers. Results: Personal factors included health problems, motivation, effects ohealthy diet, health-related careers, and dietary habits. Family factors included family structuresupport from family members, and critical health events involving family members or relativesCommunity factors consisted of educational materials, friends, primary care physicians, and onlinsocial networks. Societal factors included accessibility to grocery stores and restaurants. ConclusionsAged Chinese-Canadian immigrants experience unique facilitators of and barriers to healthy eatingwhich may warrant further attention from healthcare professionals when educating patients in culturally-sensitive manner.