Patients' perspectives on taking insulin in diabetes - Perspectives of convergence

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural perspectives and experiences relating to insulin therapy among the diabetes. The authors conducted four semi-structured focus groups and individual interviews with 19 adults with type 1 and 2 diabetes, focusing on the personal experiences and thoughts regarding insulin therapy. Patients' perspectives and experiences relating to taking insulin formed three categories of themes: preoccupations about insulin, barriers to taking insulin, and benefits to taking insulin. The theme for preoccupations about insulin was "vague fear," while the theme of barriers to taking insulin were "worrisome insulin-related issues", "ambivalent feelings (trust/mistrust) about healthcare providers," "dependent life," "feeling about supporters(family, friends, and religion)," "inconvenience," "regret about the past," and "embarrassment." The theme of benefits to taking insulin were "recognition" and "physical recovery and confidence in regulating blood glucose". Based on this study, patients' feelings about their insulin should be respected by healthcare providers.

The prevalence of insulin refusal and psychological insulin resistance among Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…Over the last decade, in Korea, the prevalence of diabetes has rapidly increased to 12.4% in 2011, compared to 9.1% in 2005; a further 2-fold increase is expected over the next 40 years (16). Despite the growing prevalence of diabetes, insulin refusal rate has declined from 67% in 2008 (10) to 35.7% in the current study.…”

“…Attitudes and beliefs of patients from Korea regarding insulin therapy may differ from those of patients from other cultures or countries. Specifically, diabetes management, including adherence to insulin therapy, is not always seen as high priority among the Korean population, with family obligations or financial comforts often making top of the list (14)(15)(16). This suggests that the differences in insulin refusal rates may result from cultural norms and the healthcare systems available in a particular country; individual healthrelated beliefs and psychosocial factors also play a role (17,18).…”

Development and validation of the self‐stigma scale in people with diabetes

“…Thereafter, the oblimin method, which is an orthogonal pre-transaction method, was used. Standards for loading values vary between 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5, but in this study, items with communality and loading value size of 0.4 or less were removed (Song, 2011).…”

“…Stigma for diabetes has already been discussed in several studies (Browne et al., 2016; Kato et al., 2014, 2016; Song & Ah, 2016). However, previous studies do not clearly focus on the types of stigma of diabetes, but simply refer to it as “stigma” or “social stigma” (Seo & Song, 2019).…”

“…However, previous studies do not clearly focus on the types of stigma of diabetes, but simply refer to it as “stigma” or “social stigma” (Seo & Song, 2019). Patients with diabetes can hide their disease because their symptoms are not visible (Song & Ah, 2016); thus, self‐stigma, which is related to self‐perception, is more important than social stigma.…”