Salina Ahmed

Considering the role of culture on asthma self-management behaviour: using the Bangladeshi and Pakistani exemplar populations

Self-management improves asthma outcomes and has been widely recommended in guidelines, though interventions are less effective in UK South Asian communities. The aim of the project was to understand the role of South Asian culture on asthma self-management, which can help set the foundations for developing holistic bottom-up interventions.

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of South Asian and Black populations revealed that socio-cultural contexts (including whether individuals were from a minority or indigenous population) was important for developing interventions targeted at different cultures, but bottom-up interventions were rare. Ethnic minority interventions (South Asian and African-American) were less effective than interventions delivered in indigenous Indian populations. Only half of the interventions reported being underpinned by theory and theoretical components did not inform the tailoring of interventions.

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews focussing on the perspective of Bangladeshi and Pakistani individuals on asthma self-management revealed that self-management was contingent upon the conceptualisation and meanings derived from who the ‘self’ was living with asthma and the context the behaviour of ‘management’ took place in.

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews focussing on the perspective of healthcare professionals on supported self-management for Bangladeshi and Pakistani patients revealed that healthcare professionals generally made universal assumptions about culture and adapted supported self-management accordingly (in the absence of adequate cultural training).

About me

I am an Academic Researcher and Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. My research interests include health psychology, chronic illnesses, self-management, culture, migration and health, and health promotions.

Publications

• Ahmed, S., Steed, L., Harris, K., Taylor, S. J., and Pinnock, H. (2018). Interventions to enhance the adoption of asthma self-management behaviour in the South Asian and African American population: a systematic review. NPJ primary care respiratory medicine, 28(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-017-0070-6
• Ahmed S., Salim H., Steed L and Pinnock H. (2017). Blue inhalers: blowing hot and cold. Npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, 27(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-016-0008-4

Research activity (conferences, congress, annual scientific meeting)

1. Poster: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock H and Steed L. Exploring healthcare professional perspective on providing supported self-management to South Asians with asthma. The European Respiratory Society International Congress (Paris, 2018).
2. Poster: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock H and Steed L. Exploring the role of South Asian culture on asthma self-management behaviour: a qualitative study. South Asian International Primary Care and Respiratory Society Meeting (Sri Lanka, 2017).
3. Oral: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock H and Steed L. Exploring the role of South Asian culture on asthma self-management behaviour: a qualitative study. MRC Mechanisms/AUKCAR Joint Centre Event (London, 2017).
4. Oral: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock H and Steed L. Developing theory-based interventions to enhance asthma self-management behaviour in South Asians and African Americans: a systematic review. The BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference (Cardiff, 2017).
5. Poster: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock P & Steed L. A Systematic Review of the Explanatory Factors Enhancing the Adoption of Asthma Self-Management Behaviour in the South Asian and Black Population. Presented at Queen Mary University of London Blizard Institute Graduate Studies Day (London, April 2016).
6. Oral presentation: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock P & Steed L. A Systematic Review on the Explanatory Factors in the Adoption of Asthma Self-Management Behaviour in the South Asian & Black Population. Presented at Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research Annual Scientific Meeting (Manchester, November 2016).
7. Oral presentation: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock P & Steed L. A Systematic Review on the Explanatory Factors in the Adoption of Asthma Self-Management Behaviour in the South Asian & Black Population. International Primary Care & Respiratory Society Conference (Amsterdam, May 2016).
8. Poster: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock P & Steed L. A Systematic Review of the Explanatory Factors Enhancing the Adoption of Asthma Self-Management Behaviour in the South Asian and Black Population. Presented at The European Respiratory Society International Congress (London, September 2016).
9. Poster: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock P & Steed L. Building a Theoretical Basis for Exploring the Role of South Asian Culture on Asthma Self-Management Behaviour. Presented at The Primary Care and Respiratory Society UK (Telford, October 2016).
10. Poster: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock P & Steed L. A Systematic Review of the Explanatory Factors Enhancing the Adoption of Asthma Self-Management Behaviour in the South Asian and Black Population. Presented at Primary Care Respiratory Society UK Conference (Northampton, October 2015).
11. Oral: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock H and Steed L. A systematic review on the explanatory factors in the adoption of asthma self-management behaviour in the South Asian and Black population. Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research Annual Scientific Meeting (Manchester, 2015).
12. Poster: Ahmed S, Taylor SJC, Pinnock P & Steed L. Developing & Piloting Asthma Self-Management Interventions for South Asians. Presented at the First Annual Scientific Meeting of Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research (Oxford, November 2014).

Acknowledgements

This work is funded by Asthma UK as part of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research [AUK-AC-2012-01]