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A qualitative study of problem solving and diabetes control in type 2 diabetes self-management
Felicia Hill-Briggs1, Denise C Cooper2, Kimberly Loman3
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to explore and compare diabetes-related problem solving in urban African Americans in good and poor diabetes control.
Methods:
Two focus groups were conducted, one with participants in good diabetes control and one with participants in poor control. Based on a theoretical model, focus group interview questions were designed to elicit responses about 3 aspects of diabetes-related problem solving: (1) problem-solving orientation, (2) problem-solving process, and (3) transfer of past experience. Transcripts were analyzed using a qualitative data analysis software program, and expert panel members independently reviewed responses and coding.
Results:
The primary types of problems with diabetes self-management were similar in the good control and poor control groups. Predominant problem-solving themes in the good control group reflected a positive orientation toward diabetes self-management and problem solving, a rational problem-solving process, and a positive transfer of past experience. In contrast, predominant themes in the poor control group revealed a negative orientation, careless and avoidant problem-solving processes, and negative transfer of past learning to new situations.
Conclusions:
The problem-solving model may help identify ineffective problem-solving patterns in persons with poor diabetes control. Empirical studies testing the model are warranted.