Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Receiving a diagnosis of a chronic disease such as diabetes mellitus can be a distressing and life-altering event. However, reactions to the receipt of this ‘bad news’ can be varied and are not always negative. Further research, particularly with non-Western populations, is required to explore patients’ differing reactions to their diagnosis.

Objective: The objective of the study was to explore adult men and women’s reactions to diagnosis and the possible factors affecting these reactions.

Design: A qualitative interview design was adopted.

Methods: In-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed. Qualitative content analysis (informed by the principles of frame-work analysis) was performed; all authors participated in the discussion of the findings, and consensus was obtained for each identified theme.

Settings: The study was conducted at the Diabetes Association of Iran. The association offers wide-ranging, specialized, multidisciplinary services six-days-a-week, for outpatients who are referred by a doctor or nurse specializing in diabetes.

Participants: Twenty participants (11 men and 9 women) with type 2 diabetes referred to the Diabetes Association of Iran (to receive consulting services in the fields of nutrition, psychology and health care) were recruited via purposive (maximum-variation) sampling.

Results: Four themes emerged from the study: emotional responses, cognitive responses, behavioral responses and contextual factors. A complex interplay between the themes was identified.

Conclusions: Emotional responses to receiving diagnosis of diabetes can be varied and affect the ways in which people think about and react to their diagnosis in terms of behavior change. Family may play a key role in how people initially respond to their diagnosis and should be considered in future research and interventions to support the psychological needs of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The results of this study can be utilized by healthcare professionals when planning care programs to support patients to manage the disease.