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Unmet and unperceived needs for type 2 diabetes self-management among slum dwellers in Iran: a cross-sectional study
Fawzieh Ghammari1, Habib Jalilian2, Masumeh Gholizadeh3
1Department of Health Policy and Management School of Management and medical informatics, Tabriz University of medical sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Aim:
This study aimed to identify unmet and unperceived needs for T2D self-management among those residing in Tabriz slums, Iran, in 2022.
Background:
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications are more common among slum dwellers. T2D is a lifelong disease that requires continuous care. By contrast, slum dwellers are less likely to adhere to standard health care.
Methods:
This study is cross-sectional. We included 400 patients using a systematic random sampling method. Unmet and unperceived needs were assessed through a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed based on Iran's Package of Essential Non-Communicable Diseases (IraPEN) instructions and an expert panel. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.
Findings:
Need for more healthcare cost coverage by insurance organizations (85.5%), financial support to provide medicine (68%), free and accessible sports equipment in the area (48.5%), continuous access to blood sugar test instruments (47.8%), know how to test blood sugar and interpret the results (47.7%), more communication with healthcare providers (42.3%), and detailed education from health professionals (41.2%) were the most common unmet needs. The least perceived need was to know how to care for feet (16%).
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