Perceptions of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Health Care Providers of Living with Diabetes and its Treatment and Care: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Understanding the experiences of patients and health care providers of Diabetes is considered a key element in knowing how to treat and care for the disease. However, few studies have investigated the patients’ and health care providers’ experiences of diabetes. This study aimed to find how patients with Diabetes and health care providers perceive living with this disease and its treatment and care. Materials and Methods: A descriptive exploratory qualitative research approach was conducted through individual and group interviews with 23 patients with diabetes and health care providers of Isfahan urban health centers in 2020. Purposive sampling was continued until data saturation was reached, and Interview transcripts were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method. Results: Overall, three themes emerged: disease control facilitators (healthy lifestyle, high levels of health literacy, self‑care ability, supporting networks, and effective doctor–patient communication), disease control barriers (inadequate social support, misconceptions, patient burnout, low levels of health literacy, economic problems, inability to self‑care, and the patient’s non‑compliance), and annoying consequences of living with diabetes (emotional and psychological problems, unpleasant experiences, and reduced quality of life). Conclusions: Patients with diabetes experience several facilitators and obstacles in controlling their disease and face its complications. There were many myths about treatment. Therefore, health policymakers and planners should plan health‑related interventions to remove barriers to disease control and strengthen facilitators for patients with diabetes mellitus.