Qualitative analysis of the patient-provider interactions: the patient's perspective

This qualitative analysis of videotaped patient-provider interviews focuses attention on the patient's experience of diabetes. Excerpts from the videotaped interviews are examined from the framework of a diabetes management trajectory identified from a qualitative research study of 19 insulin-managed adults. It is suggested that providers need to become sensitive to the experience of illness-as-lived in order to more accurately assess patient responses to management and to promote sustained efforts toward diabetes self-care.