The Perceptions and Experience of Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Taiwan: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Background: At present, most research related to GDM investigates disease control from the perspective of medical care givers. Medical professionals often lack understanding of the life context of GDM, which not only alienates them from the experience of patients with GDM but also leads to the provision of health care and the formulation of policies that are not appropriate for women. The objective of the present study was to explore the perceptions and experience of women with GDM in Taiwan.Methods: A descriptive phenomenological approach was applied to conduct this study. Purposive sampling was utilized to select 22 women with GDM from a medical centre in northern Taiwan. Data were collected from October 2017 and July 2018 through in-depth interviews using semi-structured and open-ended questions. Data were analysed according to Giorgi’s phenomenological method.Results: Four themes emerged from the data: Unexpectedly having a high-risk pregnancy, Beliefs of effects of blood glucose control, Perceived obstacles of implementing blood glucose control and Maternal duty to ensure the safety of mother and child.Conclusions: Health professionals must be able to understand the experience and perception of women with GDM. In addition to the medical care needs for women with GDM, their culture, the emotional impact of the disease, and their feelings and difficulties in the face of the disease must be considered to ensure that women receive comprehensive perinatal care.