Family Support and Diabetes: Patient’s Experiences From a Public Hospital in Peru

M. Amalia Pesantes, Adela Del Valle, Francisco Diez-Canseco, Antonio Bernabé-Ortiz, Jill Portocarrero, Antonio Trujillo, Pilar Cornejo, Katty Manrique, J. Jaime Miranda

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

Family support is crucial for managing chronic conditions but it is often overlooked when designing behavioral interventions in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As part of the formative phase of a feasibility randomized control trial (RCT), we conducted 20 semistructured interviews with people with T2DM from Lima, Peru. Based on such results, we describe the support people with T2DM receive from their families and the role that such support has in their efforts to implement diabetes management practices. We learned that participants receive support from family members, but mostly from their spouses and children. Their relatives encourage them and motivate them to fight for their health, they also provide instrumental support by preparing healthy meals, reminding them to take medications, and sharing physical activity. Participants also reported controlling actions which were not always “well received.” Thus, any intervention supporting self-management practices need to work with key family members. We support the literature that suggests that interventions should target family members to ensure improved T2DM self-management practices.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1871-1882
Number of pages12
JournalQualitative Health Research
Volume28
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Peru
  • RCT
  • diabetes
  • families
  • in-depth interviews
  • management
  • qualitative
  • social support

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