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Exploring the experiences of older Chinese adults with comorbidities including diabetes: surmounting these challenges in order to live a normal life
- Source :
- Patient preference and adherence
- Publication Year :
- 2018
- Publisher :
- Informa UK Limited, 2018.
-
Abstract
- Hsiu-Yu Ho,1,2 Mei-Hui Chen,2,3 Meei-Fang Lou1 1School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 2Department of Nursing, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, 3National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China Background: Many people with diabetes have comorbidities, even multimorbidities, which have a far-reaching impact on the older adults, their family, and society. However, little is known of the experience of older adults living with comorbidities that include diabetes. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the experience of older adults living with comorbidities including diabetes. Methods: A qualitative approach was employed. Data were collected from a selected field of 12 patients with diabetes mellitus in a medical center in northern Taiwan. The data were analyzed by Colaizzi’s phenomenological methodology, and four criteria of Lincoln and Guba were used to evaluate the rigor of the study. Results: The following 5 themes and 14 subthemes were derived: 1) expecting to heal or reduce the symptoms of the disease (trying to alleviate the distress of symptoms and trusting in health practitioners combining the use of Chinese and Western medicines); 2) comparing complex medical treatments (differences in physician practices and presentation, conditionally adhering to medical treatment, and partnering with medical professionals); 3) inconsistent information (inconsistent health information and inconsistent medical advice); 4) impacting on daily life (activities are limited and hobbies cannot be maintained and psychological distress); and 5)weighing the pros and cons (taking the initiative to deal with issues, limiting activity, adjusting mental outlook and pace of life, developing strategies for individual health regimens, and seeking support). Surmounting these challenges in order to live a normal life was explored. Conclusion: This study found that the experience of older adults living with comorbidities including diabetes was similar to that of a single disease, but the extent was greater than a single disease. The biggest difference is that the elderly think that their most serious problem is not diabetes, but rather, the comorbidities causing life limitations. Therefore, compared to the elderly suffering from a single disease of diabetes, medical professionals not only care about physiological data of the elderly but also pay attention to the impact of comorbidity on their lives. Keywords: diabetes, comorbidity, multimorbidity, elderly, older adult, life experience
- Subjects :
- Gerontology
multimorbidity
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Disease
elderly
older adult
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Medical advice
Diabetes mellitus
medicine
030212 general & internal medicine
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (miscellaneous)
Original Research
diabetes
030504 nursing
Medical treatment
business.industry
life experience
Health Policy
Chinese adults
medicine.disease
Comorbidity
comorbidity
Distress
Patient Preference and Adherence
Health information
0305 other medical science
business
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 1177889X
- Volume :
- 12
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Patient Preference and Adherence
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....dd2d42807881c25a1c9e46addcaef52c