Diabetic patients’ perception of self-care

• Autor(a) principal: Trajano, Soraya da Silva
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Martins, Luiza Valeska de Mesquita, Newton, Tallys Fernandes, Falcão, Cristina de Santiago Viana, Bezerra, Leila Maria Machado, Abdon, Ana Paula Vasconcellos, Catrib, Ana Maria Fontenelle
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira em Promoção da Saúde
• Texto Completo: https://ojs.unifor.br/RBPS/article/view/7598
• topic: Perception; Diabetes Mellitus; Health Education.; Percepción; Diabetes Mellitus; Educación en Salud.; Percepção; Diabetes Mellitus; Educação em Saúde

Objective: To analyze the diabetic patients’ perception of self-care. Methods: Qualitative study, carried out in a diabetes and hypertension referral center in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, in the period from February to June 2016. The sample consisted of 12 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who attended the meetings of the Social Responsibility Program. For data collection, a focus group was carried out, followed by the thematic analysis, thus emerging four categories: acquisition of healthy life habits; eating and physical activity allied to diabetes management; continuous adherence to medication for prevention of injuries; and daily care with diabetic foot prevention. Results: It can be understood, through the reports, that there is development of awareness based on the practice of education and health presented by the participants linked to the program. The patients expressed to the group the importance of their awareness of the essential care procedures for management of diabetes, highlighting good health practices, such as: a balanced diet, the regular practice of physical exercises, non-abandonment of medication therapy, and foot hygiene and care. Conclusion: The study found that the Social Responsibility Program gave rise to changes in life habits, considering the practice of health education as fundamental to the diabetic patients’ perception.