Patients’ and Health Professionals’ Views on Caring in Diabetes Disease

Abstract

Background Diabetes is a common problem with severe complications. The control of diabetes needs a close and honest relationship between patients and health professionals. The views of these two groups might influence the professional relationship. Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify the views of diabetic patients versus the views of diabetic care professionals on the content of caring. Patients and Methods This qualitative study was conducted with the content analysis method. The participants consisted of adults who had suffered from diabetes for a minimum of one year, and health care professionals working in diabetes care centers. Fifteen patients and fifteen health professionals participated in the interviews. Results The findings present four main themes which are as follows: what caring is and what means to care, the obstacles in providing care, the outcomes of caring, and specialist community-based care as a crucial intervention in diabetes care, the themes were identified and based on the data analysis, It appeared that patients were more outcome centered, while health professionals were more process- centered in the context of caring. Conclusions It appeared that patients were more outcome centered, while health professionals were more process -centered in the context of caring.