Patients focused on integrating diabetes into their daily lives; practitioners focused on glucose control
Question Are patient and provider perspectives on the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus similar for issues of control, goal setting, evaluation of success, and treatment strategies?
Design
Qualitative, exploratory study.
Setting
Public clinics and community health centres in Texas, USA.
Participants
51 Mexican-American adults who had diabetes for >1 year and no major diabetes related impairment (mean age 52.9 y, 51% men, and mean annual household income US$12 500) and 35 practitioners (26 physicians, 5 physician's assistants, 2 nurse practitioners, and 2 staff nurses) who had direct patient care responsibilities (mean age 43.3 y, 71% men, and 51% Hispanic).
Methods
Patients were interviewed in their homes using semi-structured questions on illness history, coping strategies, perceived barriers to care, the illness, and its management. Practitioners were interviewed with emphasis on treating diabetes (attitudes, difficulties, and how to deal with the difficulties). Interviews were taped, transcribed, indexed, cross checked, and data were categorised into goals, evaluation, …
