AUTHOR=Bukhsh Allah , Goh Bey-Hing , Zimbudzi Edward , Lo Clement , Zoungas Sophia , Chan Kok-Gan , Khan Tahir Mehmood 

TITLE=Type 2 Diabetes Patients' Perspectives, Experiences, and Barriers Toward Diabetes-Related Self-Care: A Qualitative Study From Pakistan

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.534873

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2020.534873

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=Objective
This study aimed to qualitatively explore perspectives, practices, and barriers to self-care practices in Urban Pakistani adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 
Methods
Pakistani adults with T2DM were recruited from the outpatient departments of two hospitals in Lahore. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and audio-recorded until thematic saturation was reached. Two researchers thematically analyzed the data independently using NVivo® software with differences resolved by a third researcher.  
Results
Thirty-two Pakistani adults (aged 35-75 years, 62% female) participated in the study. Six themes were identified from qualitative analysis: role of family and friends; role of doctors and health-care; patients’ understanding about diabetes; complication of diabetes and other co-morbidities; burden of self-care; and, life circumstances. A variable experience was observed with education and healthcare. Counseling by healthcare providers, family support and fear of diabetes-associated complications, were the key enablers that encouraged the study participants to adhere to diabetes-related self-care practices. Major barriers to self-care were: financial constraints, physical limitations, extreme weather conditions, social gatherings, food loving-nature, forgetfulness, needle phobia, and, hectic job nature. 
Conclusion
Respondents identified many barriers to diabetes self-care, particularly related to life situations and diabetes knowledge. Family support and education by healthcare providers were key influencers to self-care practices among Pakistani people with diabetes.