Supportive and non-supportive interactions in families with a type 2 diabetes patient: an integrative review

Abstract

BackgroundType 2 diabetes and its management affect the patient and the close family potentially causing either psychological distress or increased sense of responsibility and collaboration in these families. Interactions between patient and family play an important role in maintaining lifestyle changes and diabetes self-management. The purpose of this integrative review was to summarise and assess published studies on the intra-family perspective of supportive and non-supportive interactions in families with a type 2 diabetes patient.MethodsIncluded in the review were published qualitative and quantitative studies that examined the intra-family perspective on supportive and non-supportive interactions. We searched the literature from 2000 to 2016 and the search strategy comprised the following databases: Cochrane, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Psyc-ARTICLES as well as hand searching of reference lists. Quality assessment, data extraction and analysis were undertaken on all included studies.ResultsWe identified five eligible research papers. Employing content analysis three categories describing interactions were refined: Impact of practical action, impact of emotional involvement, and impact of communication content. Supportive interactions included encouraging communication and family collaboration in managing diet, medications, and blood glucose checking. Non-supportive interactions were visible irritation, nagging behaviour and refusing to share the burden of living with diabetes.ConclusionThe findings stress the importance of including both patient and family in clinical practice to target diabetes self-management adherence and well-being of the whole family. The majority of self-management occurs within the family environment. Therefore, the intra-family perspective of supportive and non-supportive interactions should be understood and addressed as the family members are interdependent and affected by each other. Future research assessing the impact of professional support and the family function will have the potential to improve the daily life and well-being of patients with type 2 diabetes as well as the whole family.

Mutual Involvement in Families Living with Type 2 Diabetes: Using the Family Toolbox to Address Challenges Related to Knowledge, Communication, Support, Role Confusion, Everyday Practices and Mutual Worries

“…Therefore, the intra-family perspective of supportive and non-supportive interactions should be understood and addressed, as family members are interdependent and affected by each other. Future research assessing the impact of professional support and the family function will have the potential to improve the daily life and well-being of people with T2D as well as the whole family (Bennich et al 2017).…”

Wie belastend erleben Angehörige den Diabetes?

“…Von den meisten Menschen mit Diabetes wird das Interesse und Engagement durch andere, besonders durch Familienangehörige, jedoch als sehr positiv erlebt [15]. Eine Verbesserung der sozialen Unterstützung durch die Integration von Angehörigen in den therapeutischen Prozess ist daher auch eine wichtige Maßnahme zur Optimierung der Diabetestherapie [1,2,4]. Auf der anderen Seite können die Anforderungen des Diabetes und seiner Therapie auch für Angehörige eine Belastung darstellen und zu einem reduzierten Wohlbefinden, einer verminderten Lebensqualität und erhöhtem Stress führen [9,10,27].…”

“…Folgende Aspekte werden im Folgenden behandelt: 4 How burdensome do family members experience diabetes? German sample of the international DAWN2™ study Abstract Background.…”

Biculturalism in couple support for diabetes care in U.S.‐born Chinese Americans

“…PWDs reportedly felt supported by their spouses’ efforts to educate themselves about the disease and help with lifestyle changes required by the disease. Emotional support included respecting the PWD's independence and privacy, as well as listening to the PWD's concerns (Bennich et al, ). Third, Chinese Americans have 1.87 times greater risk of being diagnosed with diabetes [OR 1.64, 2.12] than non‐Hispanic Whites [ p < .05] (Wang et al, ) although estimates vary (CDC, ).…”

“…Emotional support included respecting the PWD's independence and privacy, as well as listening to the PWD's concerns (Bennich et al, 2017). Third, Chinese Americans have 1.87 times greater risk of being diagnosed with diabetes [OR 1.64, 2.12] than non-Hispanic Whites [p < .05] (Wang et al, 2011) although estimates vary (CDC, 2017).…”