BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Spanish-speaking immigrant population is growing at staggering rates in the United States, climbing more than 50 percent in 10 years according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau numbers. And healthcare professionals are looking for different ways to communicate the idea of a healthy lifestyle to this burgeoning patient segment.
Work by Illinois Wesleyan University’s School of Nursing Director Donna Hartweg and Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies Christina Isabelli-Garcia that gives healthcare communication a boost is drawing international attention. An ongoing study by the two women is asking Latina women the question: What does it mean to be healthy?
“If healthcare workers better understand what women feel when they come into this country, they will be able to better guide them about a healthy lifestyle,” said Hartweg, who compiled data based on focus groups led by Isabelli-Garcia.