Diabetes management challenges in Iran: A qualitative content analysis

Abstract

AIM: To explore and analyse diabetes management challenges in the patients visiting a diabetes unit in Iran. BACKGROUND: Managing a chronic disease like diabetes needs the patients' follow-up and coherent care delivery system. In fact, it requires a systematic and organised care delivery system with skilful and specialist team. METHODS: This qualitative research was conducted at a specialized poly-clinic of Isfahan insurance organisation in 2016. The research participants were the members of clinic diabetes unit (physician, nurse, secretary, clinic director) and 21 type 2 diabetic patients of the clinic who were selected using purposeful sampling method. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: The qualitative findings of this research were obtained in two main categories including the following: (a) weak care delivery system and (b) defective diabetes self-care. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this research have demonstrated that there are system-centred and patient-centred challenges in diabetes management, and they can affect the patients' health outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Since diabetes is one of the health system priorities, the findings of this study can be a warning for managers and policy makers to plan seriously to reform diabetes management system infrastructures.