ABSTRACT
AIM: The purpose of the study was to analyse self-descriptions of diabetes burnout in individuals with Type 1 diabetes via YouTube videos. METHODS: In this qualitative descriptive study, a systematic approach was used to search YouTube videos with a title, description or content specifically about diabetes burnout dated between 2007 and 2017. Irrelevant or duplicated videos were excluded using eligibility criteria. All videos meeting inclusion criteria (n = 32) from individuals with Type 1 diabetes were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a qualitative content analysis approach. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse video characteristics. RESULTS: The four major themes associated with diabetes burnout were: (i) feeling mentally drained and physically tired of dealing with self-care; (ii) experiencing a detachment from self, diabetes care and support system; (iii) being powerless and paralysed to 'climb out' of diabetes burnout; and (iv) contributing potential factors to diabetes burnout. CONCLUSIONS: Self-descriptions of diabetes burnout suggest that it is a combination of emotions and behaviours on a spectrum from exhaustion to detachment accompanied by an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. More studies are needed to further clarify diabetes burnout and its distinction from, or overlap with, other related psychosocial concepts in diabetes care.
Subject(s)
Burnout, Psychological/psychology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/psychology , Self Care , Social Media , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/therapy , Humans , Power, Psychological , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Empowerment and power are well-researched concepts concerning people with chronic diseases. However, few researchers have focused specifically on the process of empowerment in Iranian people with diabetes. Understanding the empowerment process could help health professionals facilitate empowerment. AIM: To explore the empowerment process in Iranian people with diabetes. METHOD: A grounded theory research design was used incorporating in-depth interviews to collect the data from men and women aged 21-73 years (n = 16). Data were collected between February and July 2007. Constant comparative analysis was undertaken to identify key categories. FINDINGS: Participants indicated being embarrassed by the diagnosis, thirsting to learn, living in the shadow of fear, accepting diabetes as reality, managing diabetes and feeling empowered were distinct but interconnected phases in the empowerment process. The empowerment process was influenced by cultural and religious beliefs including the concept of the doctor as holy man, accepting diabetes as God's will, caring for the body because it was God's gift, paying attention to symptomatic disease, and support from peers and family, especially daughters. CONCLUSION: The empowerment process consists of several distinct but interconnected phases. The findings will help health professionals develop a deeper understanding of how Iranian people with diabetes become empowered.