A qualitative study to explore the perception and behavior of patients towards diabetes management with physical disability

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine self-monitoring practices, awareness to dietary modifications and barriers to medication adherence among physically disabled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.MethodsInterview sessions were conducted at diabetes clinic—Penang general hospital. The invited participants represented three major ethnic groups of Malaysia (Malay, Chinese and Indians). An open-ended approach was used to elicit answers from participants. Interview questions were related to participant’s perception towards self-monitoring blood glucose practices, Awareness towards diet management, behaviour to diabetes medication and cues of action.ResultsA total of twenty-one diabetes patients between the ages 35–67 years with physical disability (P1–P21) were interviewed. The cohort of participants was dominated by males (n = 12) and also distribution pattern showed majority of participants were Malay (n = 10), followed by Chinese (n = 7) and rest Indians (n = 4). When the participants were asked in their opinion what was the preferred method of recording blood glucose tests, several participants from low socioeconomic status and either divorced or widowed denied to adapt telemonitoring instead preferred to record manually. There were mixed responses about the barriers to control diet/calories. Even patients with high economic status, middle age 35–50 and diabetes history of 5–10 years were influenced towards alternative treatments.ConclusionsStudy concluded that patients with physical disability required extensive care and effective strategies to control glucose metabolism.Practice implicationThis study explores the patients’ perspectives regarding treatment management with physical disability.

Awareness regarding COVID-19 and problems being faced by young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus amid nationwide lockdown in India: A qualitative interview study

“…Because it was not feasible to perform a community-based face-to-face survey during this period, we conducted a telephone-based qualitative interview study in young adults with T1DM. Similar qualitative interview studies have been used in the past to assess the experiences, perceptions, behaviors and psychosocial aspects of people living with diabetes mellitus [ [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] ]. Although telephone-based qualitative interview has generally been considered inferior to in-person interviews [ 22 ], using telephone for qualitative interviews carries with it the logistic and practical advantages of improved access to geographically dispersed interviewees, reduced costs and increased interviewer safety [ 23 ].…”

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“…Glycemic control is one of the ultimate tools to evaluate the patient’s disease progression and treatment success [ 3 , 6 ] however, clinical literature showed that not only treatment but patient’s perception and self-care behavior are also strong mediating factors for glycemic control among T2DM patients [ 3 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]. Several studies have shown positive effect of self-care management to glycemic index [ 4 , 7 , 9 – 11 ], also diabetic-related knowledge is considered as an important factor for development/improvement in self-care behavior and practices [ 12 ]. Similarly, chronic or long term complications reduce the well-being of patient with adverse changes on self-care behavior thus resulted with poor HRQOL and decrease health status/state [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Women with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Effect of Disease and Psychosocial-Related Correlates on Health-Related Quality of Life

“…Self-care is the one of the important factor for achieving optimal glycemic levels among patients with IDDM [ 2 , 3 ]. Diabetes patients are responsible for their daily care, such as self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG), diet management, and insulin dose adjustments [ 5 , 6 ]. Diabetes affects the daily life functioning therefore, lowering the health status and QOL among patients [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…Treatment success or failure also based on patient's satisfaction to different aspects of disease domains [ 1 , 6 ]. Diabetes is often examined in terms of compliance and metabolic outcomes.…”

“…HRQOL is a multidimensional construct [ 9 ] comprising of physical, social, and psychosocial domains. Also, the core feature of HRQOL is the self-evaluation of patient regarding his health-related quality of life [ 1 , 4 , 6 ]. Studies have suggested that adequate self-care will improve the glycemic control [ 1 , 3 ].…”