“When I was first diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I was shocked,” Mercy Hospital for Women (MHW) patient Hise* says. “I did not have any symptoms and I was a healthy person so the diagnosis was very unexpected.”
Hise is just one of hundreds of women who have used new culturally adapted patient information sheets to manage gestational diabetes in pregnancy, thanks to an innovative project led by the Mercy Health Multicultural Services and MHW Dietetics teams.
While every pregnant woman at Mercy Health is screened for gestational diabetes, previous resources to help patients manage the condition were predominantly available in English and based on a western diet.
MHW Senior Dietitian Nelly Moshonas says many women like Hise experience feelings of anxiety and uncertainty when being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. “These feelings were exaggerated when, in the past, migrant and refugee women often struggled to understand and implement healthy eating guidelines based on traditional western concepts and diets,” Nelly says.
Identifying an opportunity to find better ways to care for women with limited English proficiency, Mercy Health teams set on a project to expand the gestational diabetes resources and develop a range of culturally relevant, bilingual information sheets about healthy eating for women with gestational diabetes.
Working closely with migrant and refugee women to learn about their food and culture, our teams created new resources for patients in Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Persian and Somali. Each information sheet also includes culturally appropriate food suggestions that are familiar to many migrant patients.
The innovative project was born from collaboration between Mercy Health teams (from left to right) Multicultural Services Manager Natalija Nesvadba, Dietitian Tara Southgate, Senior Dietitian Nelly Moshonas and Interpreters Naira Riad and Joyce Zhu
The successful project was a finalist in 2022 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards in October, in the category Safer Care Victoria partnering in healthcare. Mercy Health teams were also selected to showcase the project at the Safer Care Victoria Giant Steps Conference and the Austin Health ResearchFest.
Multicultural Services Manager Natalija Nesvadba says the commendation recognises Mercy Health’s commitment to improving health outcomes and experiences for consumers with limited English proficiency.
“This project demonstrates the new gold standard for health translations. We are immensely proud of our dietitians and interpreters for their dedication to working with migrant and refugee women to deliver more equitable and inclusive healthcare,” Natalija says.
In 1989, MHW established its Multicultural Services Unit — the first of its kind in a Victorian public hospital. Nelly says the new patient resources are a continuation of Mercy Health’s long tradition of caring for and working with migrant and refugee consumers.
“Providing information that is meaningful and familiar to our multicultural communities is our greatest achievement,” Nelly says.
As part of the project, the new patient resources were evaluated by a University of Melbourne researcher and the results were incredibly positive. Patients reported reduced anxiety, increased confidence, changes to meal portions and choices and ripple effects on friends and family.
Hise used the Somali gestational diabetes information sheet throughout her pregnancy and says having access to a culturally relevant resource was incredibly valuable.
“When the portions are named in your own language and the recommended foods are foods that I am familiar with, it makes choosing healthy food much easier,” she says.
Hise attending a gestational diabetes education class at Mercy Hospital for Women with Dietitian Tara Southgate
Interpreter Joyce Zhu says she has heard similar feedback from patients. “Many patients have explained how easy it is now for them to eat the food they feel comfortable with and manage their condition without giving up the fun and familiarity of their local cuisine.”
Natalija says with these new resources available, patients feel heard, informed and supported in their care. “We expect the new resources to help hundreds of women with limited English proficiency who access gestational diabetes education classes at Mercy Health hospitals each year.”
*surname withheld
Last reviewed December 14, 2022.