Abstract

A Life-Long Disease: Diabetes

Author(s):Meltem Meriç, Coşkun Meriç, Ganna Pola, Orhan Demir, İbrahim Demirci, Zeynep Yılmaz and Ömer Azal

Aim: This study is a qualitative study planned to reveal the feelings, thoughts and experiences that the diabetic patients experience in their disease processes, to determine what the disease means for them and to reveal ways to cope. Method: 20 patients, who were hospitalized with diagnosis of diabetes for treatment at the Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Clinic of Gülhane Education and Research Hospital, were included in the study. In-depth interviews with patients were conducted to collect data. A semi-structured questionnaire aimed at revealing the ages and genders, as well as the feelings, thoughts and experiences of the diabetic patients was used in the interviews, which lasted approximately 45 minutes. Individual interviews were held in each patient’s own room. Before conducting the interview, the clinic staff was warned about the interview with the patient, and the measures were taken to ensure that the interview was not split. All interviews were recorded with the patient’s permission and the recorded interviews were transferred into text as the same. The descriptive analysis method that is frequently used for analysis of data in the qualitative researches was used. Results: 7 of the patients participating in the study were males and 13 were females. It was determined that 45% of the patients were between 60-69 years of age, 85% were married, 60% lived with spouses and children. It was detected that the patients had diabetes for an average of 16,55 years and 90% received insulin + oral anti-diabetic treatment. As a result of the qualitative analysis of the patient interviews; the 5 (five) main themes were identified as “meeting with diabetes”, “difficulties in living with diabetes”, “fears caused by diabetes”, “coping with the diabetic life”, and “future with diabetes”. Conclusion: As a result, it is thought that it is important not to consider diabetes as only a physical disease, in addition, the subjects such as emotional reactions, perception of the disease, and life challenges should be evaluated by the health professionals in order to improve diabetes compliance.

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