Nutrition and self-care practices of patients with chronic Metabolic Syndrome: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze subjective aspects of eating habits and self-care of patients living with chronic symptoms linked to metabolic syndrome. Methods: A clinical and qualitative (exploratory, non-experimental) study, conducted with an intentionally small sample of nine patients in treatment at an outpatient endocrinology clinic of a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. The sample was closed when data saturation occurred. The in-depth interviews were conducted with a psychodynamic orientation toward the conduct of dialogues. The categorization of the discourse was developed through content analysis. The psychodynamic approach provided a theoretical reference complemented by social anthropology. Results: Eating habits have been revealed as mediators of autonomy and as a source of vulnerability in the process of coping with chronic illness. Reception and understanding of the psychological and cultural aspects of food are needed in treatment faced with the difficulty of establishing changes in eating behavior. Conclusion: This is a contribution of an interdisciplinary approach that values listening subjectivity during treatment. Keywords: Self care; Food habits; Chronic disease; Health promotion; Metabolic syndrome; Qualitative research resumo Objetivo: Analisar aspectos subjetivos das práticas alimentares e autocuidado de pacientes na convivência com os sintomas crônicos vinculados à Síndro-me Metabólica. Métodos: Estudo clínico-qualitativo (exploratório, não-experimental), realizado com amostra propositalmente pequena de nove pacientes em tratamento ambulatorial de endocrinologia em hospital universitário do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. O grupo foi fechado por saturação de dados. As entrevistas foram realizadas em profundidade, com orientação psicodinâmica na condução dos diálogos. A categorização do discurso foi desenvolvida por meio da análise de conteúdo. A abordagem psicodinâmica foi a referencial teórico complementada pela antropologia social. Resultados: Práticas alimentares revelaram-se como mediadoras de autonomia e como fonte de vulnerabilidade na convivência com o processo de adoecimento crônico. Acolhimento e compreensão dos aspectos psicológicos e culturais da alimentação são necessários no tratamento diante das dificuldades para estabelecer mudanças no comportamento alimentar. Conclusão: Trata-se de uma contribuição de abordagem interdisciplinar, que valoriza a escuta de subjetividades no tratamento. Descritores: Autocuidado; Hábitos alimentares; Doença crônica; Síndrome X metabólica; Pesquisa qualitativa resumeN:Objetivo: Analizar aspectos subjetivos de las prácticas alimenticias y el autocuidado de pacientes en la convivencia con los síntomas crónicos vinculados al Síndrome Metabólico. Métodos: Estudio clínico-cualitativo (exploratorio, no-experimental), realizado con una muestra propositalmente pequeña de nueve pacientes en tratamiento ambulatorio de endocrinología en un hospital universitario del Estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil. El grupo fue determinado por saturación de datos. Las entre...

Síndrome metabólica: análise conceitual no contexto da enfermagem

“…Studies on several types of nursing interventions 22,43,47,51-52 , healthcare promotion programs, Web-based 45 , of visits 49 , and self-care 30 to changes in lifestyle and increased adherence among patients with the syndrome highlight impacts on the reduction of metabolic parameters and improvement in the quality of life, with beneficial effects on metabolic parameters, in particular, in weight loss and waist circumference.…”

“…As for the most frequent antecedents, their set negatively acts on the lipid profile and increases the prevalence of the syndrome and, therefore, the risk of cardiovascular disease 22,27,30,51 . Moreover, attention is draw to the effective development of healthcare actions, based on knowledge and adherence to preventive behaviors for decreasing diseases resulting from the syndrome 33 .…”

The Relationship of Health Literacy and Adherence to Self-care Behaviors in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

“…The expected self-care behaviors in patients with metabolic syndrome are usually a set of defined behaviors, including having a healthy diet, doing exercise, using medications, and so on which has to be followed by the patients every day to gain better control of the disease [15]. According to the study of Hamadzadeh et al in Tehran, a large percentage of diabetics had an average or low self-care behaviors [16].…”