Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena

Abstract

My thesis is about my student nurse’s role in the European study RODAM: Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants. The project arose from a background which proved that Ghanaian migrant populations in Europe have been disproportionately affected by both obesity and diabetes compared with the host European populations. The main aim of the RODAM project is to understand the reasons for the high prevalence diabetes and obesity. My choice to participate in this project is due by my interest in scientific research and in transcultural medicine and nursing. In the Anglo-Saxon countries there is a specific highly skilled registered nurse who works in clinical trials: the research nurse. His/her main role is to act as the central coordinator of the studies. So, in my thesis I expose the summary of my experience as a “research nurse” within the RODAM project. In the study my role was crucial for many perspectives, in fact I coordinated day-to-day trial management. The real result of this project was the process of empowerment of Ghanaian population. At the beginning of the study they were not interested in RODAM health issues, and they did not know anything about these pathologies. But after right  incentives, and after the extremely useful help of second generation of migrants, Ghanaians became interested in the study’s issues, they participated, and they helped each other. They did it because they  became aware of the importance of these diseases. The migrants health is still a difficult objective, given the difficult social situation that involves them and the social obstacles they are experiencing now could become health obstacles. The second generation of migrants could be a source to prevent this from happening.