We conducted this qualitative study to explore children's and adolescents' perspectives about diabetes self-care, their knowledge of diabetes, and their emotions associated with having the disease. Drawing on the new sociological approach that acknowledges children's competence in discussing complex issues that concern them, we conducted individual interviews with a cross-sectional sample of 48 patients between the ages of 5 and 18 years. We recruited participants from a diabetes outpatient clinic within a large pediatric hospital in one of Canada's major urban centers. In this article, we present data from the following major themes: self-care, knowledge, and emotions. Through an in-depth analysis of these integrated themes, we offer validation that emotional support, along with disease education, provides supportive conditions for engaging in self-care and a process of acceptance.
This qualitative study employed an ethnographic approach to explore perspectives of children and adolescents on diabetes self-care. Their knowledge of diabetes and feelings about having the disease was also addressed. Rooted in the new sociological approach that acknowledges children’s right to participate in issues that concern them, forty eight paediatric patients between the ages of five and eighteen years participated in individual interviews. Participants were recruited from a diabetes outpatient clinic within the largest paediatric hospital in Canada. Data were coded using McCracken’s (1988) method of analysis. This paper presents a focused analysis of three major themes: self-care, knowledge and feelings. In-depth analyses of these integrated themes provided a rich understanding of how children and adolescents with diabetes come to accept their disease and how the process of self-care evolves over time. Despite the emotional challenges and complexity of managing diabetes, children and adolescents spoke of a resolve and readiness to obtain more knowledge about their disease. This paper describes the process of diabetes self-care from the perspectives of children and adolescents and offers suggestions for clinical practice and future research.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan falls into the category of developing nations. Pakistan is abundant in human resources. According to United Nations (UN) data, it is the fifth most populous country in the world, with a total population of 223,103,549 as of January 2021. 1 The median age is 22.8 years, and life expectancy is 67.79 years. 2 With approximately 90 per cent of the population currently under the age of 54, only a very small number of Pakistanis are elderly. 3 The country's very high birth rate creates innumerable challenges, as well as compromised living conditions and a poor quality of life. According to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI) 2020, Pakistan ranks 154th out of a total of 189 countries. 4 Such a low position on the HDI reflects the condition of the population in terms of health, education and well-being. With its rapidly increasing population, inadequate healthcare facilities, low literacy rates and extreme poverty, Pakistan is in a predicament. Although the country is blessed with the demographic dividend of a large youth population, palliative and end-of-life care cannot be ignored, as terminal illness can strike at any age or stage of life. The relatively short life expectancy and poor health conditions in Pakistan demand better healthcare policies and the ability to delegate responsibility appropriately in the event that a person loses the capacity to make decisions. 1 "Pakistan Population (LIVE)", Worldometer, 17 January 2022, www.worldometers.info/ world-population/pakistan-population/. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 M. Haider, "Human Development Index 2019: Pakistan Ranks Lower than All South Asian Countries", The News, 12 December 2019, www.thenews.com.pk/print/582826human-development-index-2019-pakistan-ranks-lower-than-all-south-asian-countries.
This qualitative study employed an ethnographic approach to explore perspectives of children and adolescents on diabetes self-care. Their knowledge of diabetes and feelings about having the disease was also addressed. Rooted in the new sociological approach that acknowledges children’s right to participate in issues that concern them, forty eight paediatric patients between the ages of five and eighteen years participated in individual interviews. Participants were recruited from a diabetes outpatient clinic within the largest paediatric hospital in Canada. Data were coded using McCracken’s (1988) method of analysis. This paper presents a focused analysis of three major themes: self-care, knowledge and feelings. In-depth analyses of these integrated themes provided a rich understanding of how children and adolescents with diabetes come to accept their disease and how the process of self-care evolves over time. Despite the emotional challenges and complexity of managing diabetes, children and adolescents spoke of a resolve and readiness to obtain more knowledge about their disease. This paper describes the process of diabetes self-care from the perspectives of children and adolescents and offers suggestions for clinical practice and future research.
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