‘Learning to shape life’ – a qualitative study on the challenges posed by a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2
Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a central challenge for health policy and healthcare in all advanced countries. For the affected persons, living with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is difficult because the disease and its treatment have a considerable effect on daily life. The aim of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-019-0924-3 |
| _version_ | 1811340054114598912 |
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| author | Astrid Fink Eva-Maria Fach Sara Lena Schröder |
| author_facet | Astrid Fink Eva-Maria Fach Sara Lena Schröder |
| author_sort | Astrid Fink |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a central challenge for health policy and healthcare in all advanced countries. For the affected persons, living with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is difficult because the disease and its treatment have a considerable effect on daily life. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges associated with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for those affected and the range, depth and complexities of the subjective perspectives of the patients under the conditions of the German healthcare system. Methods A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted using a sample of 19 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients were recruited successively from two specialized diabetological practices, three general practitioner’s offices, and two hospitals. The patients were interviewed once in person using semi-structured interviews. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed based on grounded theory. Results Persons affected by diabetes mellitus type 2 seem to feel responsible for managing their disease. Two strategies of action could be identified: 1) patients strictly followed the recommendations of the physicians, or 2) they showed that they are knowledgably managing their diabetes mellitus type 2. The action strategy to address the disease seemed to be influenced by patients’ confidence in themselves, the effectiveness of the interventions, or the patients’ locus of control. Minor differences in educational status could be discovered, and patients who were less educated tended to follow the recommendations of the physicians very strictly and seemed to place more emphasis on being compliant, which goes hand in hand with a life with prohibitions and restrictions. In contrast, being perceived as competent patients who make their own rules to manage the disease in daily life appeared to be more important for people with higher education levels. Conclusion Patient education and self-management programmes for diabetes mellitus type 2 should take different types of learners into account. Giving less-educated patients specific recommendations for successful diabetes self-management is particularly important. Trial registration German clinical trial register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00007847). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:35:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f7fb8239eb1b44eda8f6b83a4c1c6756 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:35:46Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f7fb8239eb1b44eda8f6b83a4c1c67562022-12-22T02:34:53ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762019-01-0118111110.1186/s12939-019-0924-3‘Learning to shape life’ – a qualitative study on the challenges posed by a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2Astrid Fink0Eva-Maria Fach1Sara Lena Schröder2Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical SociologyMartin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical SociologyMartin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical SociologyAbstract Background Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a central challenge for health policy and healthcare in all advanced countries. For the affected persons, living with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is difficult because the disease and its treatment have a considerable effect on daily life. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges associated with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for those affected and the range, depth and complexities of the subjective perspectives of the patients under the conditions of the German healthcare system. Methods A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted using a sample of 19 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients were recruited successively from two specialized diabetological practices, three general practitioner’s offices, and two hospitals. The patients were interviewed once in person using semi-structured interviews. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed based on grounded theory. Results Persons affected by diabetes mellitus type 2 seem to feel responsible for managing their disease. Two strategies of action could be identified: 1) patients strictly followed the recommendations of the physicians, or 2) they showed that they are knowledgably managing their diabetes mellitus type 2. The action strategy to address the disease seemed to be influenced by patients’ confidence in themselves, the effectiveness of the interventions, or the patients’ locus of control. Minor differences in educational status could be discovered, and patients who were less educated tended to follow the recommendations of the physicians very strictly and seemed to place more emphasis on being compliant, which goes hand in hand with a life with prohibitions and restrictions. In contrast, being perceived as competent patients who make their own rules to manage the disease in daily life appeared to be more important for people with higher education levels. Conclusion Patient education and self-management programmes for diabetes mellitus type 2 should take different types of learners into account. Giving less-educated patients specific recommendations for successful diabetes self-management is particularly important. Trial registration German clinical trial register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00007847).http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-019-0924-3Diabetes mellitus type 2Adapting lifePatient educationLife styleSelf-careQualitative study |
| spellingShingle | Astrid Fink Eva-Maria Fach Sara Lena Schröder ‘Learning to shape life’ – a qualitative study on the challenges posed by a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2 International Journal for Equity in Health Diabetes mellitus type 2 Adapting life Patient education Life style Self-care Qualitative study |
| title | ‘Learning to shape life’ – a qualitative study on the challenges posed by a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2 |
| title_full | ‘Learning to shape life’ – a qualitative study on the challenges posed by a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2 |
| title_fullStr | ‘Learning to shape life’ – a qualitative study on the challenges posed by a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2 |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Learning to shape life’ – a qualitative study on the challenges posed by a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2 |
| title_short | ‘Learning to shape life’ – a qualitative study on the challenges posed by a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2 |
| title_sort | learning to shape life a qualitative study on the challenges posed by a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2 |
| topic | Diabetes mellitus type 2 Adapting life Patient education Life style Self-care Qualitative study |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-019-0924-3 |
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