Actor Network Theory, Irrational Health Beliefs and Health Myths: Dead-Wrong Assumptions in the Diabetes Network

Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis:

This study aimed to investigate cultural, irrational health beliefs (IHBs). IHBs are opinions, attitudes and thoughts about health that lack empirical support or pragmatism and play a role in poor self-care and medical decision making (Fulton, Marcus and Merkey, 2011). They may impact an individual’s capacity “to obtain, process, and understand basic health information” (HHS, 2010), and may also influence an individual’s ability to adhere to medical treatments (Mann et al., 2009). In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services has specifically requested studies focused on the nature and impact of IHBs.

Individuals hold cultural, IHBs about a wide range of health issues. This investigation centered on diabetes. Diabetes is a public health concern for ethnic and racial minorities, especially Hispanics, who have a higher prevalence than non-Hispanic Whites to develop the disease (CDC, 2011).

Thus, the following research questions were posed about the IHB “diabetes is curable”:

RQ1: How is information about the curability of diabetes spread? RQ2: What are the main intermediaries and mediators in the process?

Methods: The author, who is a native speaker of Spanish, searched the web for the phrases diabetes is curable and la diabetes se cura, to trace both the English and Spanish networks. The networks were categorized, the information gathered, and a qualitative content analysis of public online narratives, diabetes blogs and forums was conducted.

Results: Our findings indicate that networks existing online mediate the spread of the IHB. Eight networks were identified: family and friends, the health care field, media portals, commercial health pages, online blogs, online forums, diabetes web pages, and academic/governmental sites. How the IHB diabetes is curable was spread, or how the information about the alleged curability of diabetes was disseminated, varied by each particular network. A variety of subjects played a role in the spread of the cultural, IHB diabetes is curable. The main subjects included those who believed in and propagated the IHB, the individuals who had no clear understanding about the IHB, the actors who rejected the belief and actively discredited it online, and the actors whose main purpose was to deliver information about diabetes.

Conclusions: The analysis of this study makes it clear that interventions at the political and legal level are required to manage the claim in the commercial networks. Additional interventions are also required to address health literacy, the digital gradient and education in general.  

Implications for research and/or practice: Identifying IHBs can help clinicians develop ways to dispel the beliefs and make recommendations on strategies to mitigate their negative impact. It can also assist with patient education and health literacy, as well as increase the cultural competence of health care providers. In addition, the study could be used to inform health campaign development and health interventions for the Hispanic community. Finally, the study can assist researchers in identifying any methodological or technological improvements needed to strengthen research in this area.