The Perception of Type 2 Diabetes Patients about Their Families

Abstract

This study was carried out to clarify the feelings of type 2 diabetes patients living away from family through qualitative factor analysis. We conducted non-structured interviews with 10 participants for continual comparative analyses.
While type 2 diabetes patients living alone decided to live alone for their own reasons, they also adjusted psychological distance from family. The adjusted psychological distance from family is associated with patient preparation for glycemic control and patient feelings about living alone, and patients expressed feelings about living alone more than preparation for living alone. This study also revealed that patient preparation for glycemic control is connected with patient feelings about glycemic control through lifestyle modification, and that psychological distance from family is associated with feelings about family.
The results of this study suggest the need to understand the manner in which type 2 diabetes patients adjust psychological distance from family and the need to provide help in living alone for ideal care because the adjustment of psychological distance from family has a significant impact on patient feelings about living alone and patient preparation for living alone.