The Role of Mutual Support Groups for the Control of Diabetes in a Mexican City: Achievements and Limitations from the Patients’ Perspective

Abstract

Background: Mutual Support Groups (MSG) provides to the patient, the ability to effective self-management behaviors, such as taking prescribed medications, following diet and exercise regimens, self-monitoring, and coping emotionally with the rigors of living with diabetes. Physicians, nurses and health promoters from public primary Health Care Centers (HCC) are responsible for providing follow-up care through MSGs. However, although the MSG program has been carried out, in the last decade Mexico presents the most alarming statistics in the prevalence and complications of Diabetes Mellitus type II (DM-II), suggesting a low impact of MSG in the strategy to support the effective control of the disease. Objetive: The aim of this work was to assess whether knowledge or benefits of effective management to control of DM-II, also to identify strengths and limitations of MSGs, in six different Health Care Centers (HCC), in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. This research provides an overview of patients' perception, and significant issues that demand to adjust MGSs strategies, with the goal of exceed the expectations of current health statistics. Methods: A qualitative evaluation was carried out, with an ethnographic approach design. The study included 28 diabetic persons, (21 women and 7 men from ruraland urban carecenters). Semistructured interviews, non-participant observation, and structured content analysis were used. Results: Support groups give patients a way to address emotional issues, and learn about their disease and self-care, although some patients consider participation an inconvenient obligation. Support group users mention barriers such as lack of continuity in support group activities, inconvenient meeting times, and the difficulty of commuting to attend group sessions. They also mention that overworked health care workers find it difficult to provide leadership to keep the group going. These issues have multiple implications for the success of strategies to control the disease. Conclusions: This study shows the need to apply a participatory model to disease support L. M. Tejada-Tayabas, M. J. R. Lugo 1985 group strategies to reorganize their actions in such a way as to meet the needs and requirements of patients and to ensure their participation and help them control their disease.

Rehabilitation Group: Benefits and Barriers in the Perspective of Women With Breast Cancer

“…The survey revealed the need for the group to rearrange the actions to meet the needs of patients and ensure their participation to help them in their rehabilitation process. 18 The participants of this study confirmed, expressing criticism and suggestions, that they considered the space offered by the service as insufficient, due to the increasing number of participants. Thus, it is considered that, despite the attendance being assiduous and women identifying several benefits to join the activities undertaken in the group, adaptations for quality care are necessary, by providing greater aids to motivate them to take action and participate in the rehabilitation service.…”

Service quality: perspective of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension in rural and urban public primary healthcare centers in Iran

“…The significant role of the support groups in controlling patients with T2DM and/or hypertension, especially in LMICs with a rising burden of diabetes, is well documented. For example, studies have reported that support groups can enhance diabetes knowledge and psychosocial functioning [ 24 , 25 ], improve diabetes outcomes [ 26 , 27 ], and enhance self-management behaviors [ 27 , 28 ]. Therefore, it is of fundamental importance to take advantage of support groups when providing services for patients with diabetes or other chronic health conditions.…”

Experiencias sobre el desarrollo del autocuidado en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 integrantes de un Ó?Grupo de Ayuda MutuaÓ� y atendidos por un equipo interdisciplinario

“…En este aspecto, cabe mencionar que se ha documentado poco en este campo, en particular en México. Un estudio previo encontró resultados similares en GAM implementados en Servicios Estatales de Salud para población sin seguridad social 24 . Otro trabajo encontró resultados similares sobre los beneficios percibidos por los pacientes en un contexto de población indígena atendida en Servicios Estatales de Salud para población sin seguridad social; sin embargo, concluyó que era necesaria la capacitación del personal sanitario en temas de salud mental 25 .…”

“…Las instituciones de salud del sector público del Sistema de Salud, como la Secretaría de Salud, el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) y el Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), han implementado programas especializados para la atención interdisciplinaria de los pacientes con DT2, conformando adicionalmente la operación de grupos GAM. En este contexto, algunos trabajos han explorado los beneficios de estos grupos en términos de valores de glucemia y conductas de autocuidado 22,23 , y además se ha visto su potencial beneficio para el apoyo emocional de los pacientes desde abordajes cualitativos 24,25 .…”