Patientens förståelse för egenvård vid nyligen diagnostiserad typ 2 diabetes

Abstract

Background: In today's society, information flowing from many different directions. Knowledge communicated to patients and families of different professions, without coordination, which can lead to misunderstandings. For patients with diabetes type 2, it is important to get information that is understandable and relevant to their illness. Through patient education, the patient may then engage in self-care and take control of the disease. Aim: The purpose of this study was to see how patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes understand self-care after visiting the nurse. Method: An empirical, qualitative interviews were carried out and contents were analyzed using qualitative content analysis inspired by Granheim and Lundman. Results: It emerged during the interviews that about half of the participants expected to suffer from diabetes, when there was a family history. Diabetes was natural to get at a certain age, with or without self-care. Most patients had made changes in diet and smoking during the first months after being diagnosed and confirmed that self-care was useful. Many felt concerned about not being able to continue with the changes, but was not worried about the future. Others had continued very confident and knew that the outcome depended on themselfs. Conclusion: With or without early self-care the disease would had come anyway. The first time after beeing diagnosed, change and self-care feelt important. When the sense of "feel good" reappeared, the motivation faded. With frequent visits to the nurse, the patients were motivated to continue.