<p>Enablers of and Barriers to Effective Diabetes Self-Care in Iran: A Qualitative Study</p>

Abstract

Introduction: Self-care behaviors are the most important factor in diabetes management, and improving such behaviors is the cornerstone in helping patients to manage their illness. The current study aimed to determine interfering factors in the self-care process in patients with diabetes. Methods: The present qualitative study with content-analysis design was performed from March 2017 to April 2019 in Mashhad, Iran. Data collection was started with sampling and continued until saturation. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. Participants comprised 21 patients with diabetes (adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes) aged 31-60 years. Data analysis was performed using the Landman method and MaxQDA 10 software. Results: Qualitative content analysis showed that patients' self-care behavior was influenced by different factors and conditions. In the current study, four key themes facilitating or preventing self-care behaviors in patients with diabetes were extracted: accessibility, environmental factors, behavioral habits, and personal factors. Conclusion: A range of personal and environmental factors may play an important role in the formation of self-care behaviors in patients with diabetes, and providing medical, welfare, and social support to such patients can facilitate self-care behavior formation in them. On the other hand, by removing perceived barriers, patients may be better able to adhere to self-care behaviors.

The relationship between social support and self-care behavior in patients with diabetes mellitus

“…Furthermore, social support and self-care significantly decreased with increasing age and duration of diabetes. This result is similar to a study conducted by Robatsarpooshi et al [34], and the finding in this study was in agreement with Mayberry's and Osborn study, which stated there was no association between perceived social support and education level [35].…”

Barriers and Facilitators in Diabetes Self-Management

“…Egzersiz ile ilgili davranış değişikliği yapma ve karar verme konusunda güçlük yaşayabilmektedirler. Bunun yanı sıra hastalar yorgunluk, kas ve eklem ağrısı ve diğer komorbiditelerinin olmasına bağlı da egzersiz yapmada güçlük ile karşılaşabilmektedirler (11,29).…”

“…Bireylerin sosyal çevresi, aile ortamı ve iş arkadaşları ile olan ilişkileri, iletişimi ve gördüğü destek, öz yönetimi etkileyen faktörler arasında olduğu belirtilmektedir. Spesifik durumlar ile ilgili çevresel engeller arasında kan şekeri yüksekliği nedeniyle stres yaşama iş, seyahat, yorgunluk gibi nedenlere bağlı diyetine uymada, egzersiz yapmada güçlük yaşama yer almaktadır (29). Belirli iş gruplarında (örneğin uzun yol şoförlüğü) öz yönetim etkilenmektedir (34).…”

Investigating the Factors Affecting the Self-care Behaviors Status of Patients With Type II Diabetes and the Role of Demographic Variables: a Case Study in Iran

“…Self-management is considered the foundation of diabetes care, and it is believed that improving patient self-management could be through self-e cacy improvement [6]. Self-care behaviors refer to the decisions and measures individuals take to control their healthcare problems [7].…”