Initiating activation in diabetes self-management from patients’ perspective
Patients’ active role is crucial in managing chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes. Current evidence demonstrated patients who were activated had better clinical outcomes. Some factors influencing patient activation have been identified but there is little knowledge on how patients successfully...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2022
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19676/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19676/1/20_ms0584_pdf_12816.pdf |
| Summary: | Patients’ active role is crucial in managing chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes.
Current evidence demonstrated patients who were activated had better clinical
outcomes. Some factors influencing patient activation have been identified but
there is little knowledge on how patients successfully start to take their role in
managing diabetes. This study aimed to explore how patients begin to activate
themselves in self-management. The narrative inquiry was taken as the qualitative
methodological approach. Ten participants with type 2 diabetes were purposively
sampled from a public primary care clinic in Malaysia. In-depth interviews were
conducted and recorded. The data were analysed with thematic analysis. Three
themes and four subthemes were generated. The first theme, “Learning what to do”
describes the learning process from social networks and healthcare professionals
that helped to define their role. The second theme highlighted that patients wished
for a gradual approach in initiating activation, i.e. “Taking one step at a time”. They
started with a more straightforward self-management task and needed more time
to take up their role. The third theme pointed out that when patients could not
perform certain self-management tasks, they would engage with someone else
to help: “Engaging with someone for challenging tasks.” In conclusion, diabetes
self-management education is substantial in developing ‘patient activation,’ i.e.
patient’s ability to self-manage. The self-management plan should also be realistic
and suit patients’ circumstances. Having a health partner or buddy among family
members or peers is helpful when trying to adopt good dietary habits and perform
regular exercise. |
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