Abstract

Taking a Moment to Pay Respects to People with Type-2 Diabetes

Author(s): Puziah Y, Hamidah H & Azian AL

Living with diabetes is not simple. Beyond those like eating healthy food, keeping active and taking medication, often ignored is a struggle on emotion, spiritual and psychological. Numerous studies suggests for the best way of managing people with diabetes is through holistic or functional approach. They need support to success, which involve a patient-centred collaborative approach to promote self-care activities, education and empowerment. However, to date, initiative to support people with type-2 diabetes and healthcare professionals to achieve those have largely been segregated which results in delayed process of adaptations and engagement of self-care. Hence, this study attempts to explore the process undertaken by people with type-2 diabetes engaging in and adaptingself-management behaviour from the nursing perspective. This is part of a larger study in developing a support system strategy to assist vulnerable population of people with type-2 diabetes in self-management adherence. Views from health professionals and family members also considered. The research study used qualitative methods of reflective and personal diaries, individual interviews, focus group and longitudinal observations. Thirty individual were repeatedly interviewed over two yearsin various setting, within a central region of Malaysia from June 2013 to December 2015. Opportunity to spend time over nine months with six people with type-2 diabetes provide in-depth understanding of this study in making constant comparison and triangulation. Rich data were electronically recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data generation and analysis occurred concurrently, which enabled the identification of emerging themes and issues from earlier data to guide future study in topic areas. There are four major themes emerged; Denial Associated Behaviour, Uncertainty and Unpredictable, Engagement and Disengagement, Self-Efficacy & Coping Strategies.


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