Abstract
Managing diabetes successfully depends largely on a patients' self-management, causing the health care provider to take on a paternalistic role in the diabetic's care. In order to evaluate features of paternalistic intervention in diabetes care, we asked 822 patients with diabetes about their self care. The questionnaire consisted of four questions : 1) the influence of self-management on life style, 2) the justification of paternalistic intervention, 3) respect for autonomy in diabetes care and 4) costs. About 38% of the patients with diabetes think that diabetes self-management interferes with their life-style. They justify paternalistic intervention because of their trust in health care providers and concern for the prevention of diabetes-related complications. Approximately 61% of the patients think that autonomy should be respected in diabetes care. The majority of patients are interested in the economic aspect of diabetes care. In conclusion, a health care provider should be aware of the paternalistic nature of diabetes self-management.
