ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explicate and interpret common experiences of diabetes educators (DEs) with patient goal setting for patients with type 2 diabetes in diabetes education. METHODS: Transcripts (n = 10) from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to more deeply explore the accounts of DEs' goal setting with patients with type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: The overarching pattern that emerged was "Striking a Balance," which subsumed 4 subthemes: Applying Theoretical-Practical Principles When Setting Goals, Identifying Idealistic-Realistic Expectations, Creating Patient-Educator-Centered Plans, and Readying-Living With Goal Setting. The pattern, "Striking a Balance," revealed a common meaning of DEs as experiences requiring balance and nuance in goal setting with patients. IMPLICATIONS: The results of this study combined with the tenets of the self-determination theory can provide the DEs with real-life exemplars and a theoretical framework to encourage their patients to self-manage, increase intrinsic motivation, and improve adherence related to their lifestyle changes and glycemic control. DEs, as facilitators of change, can implement these changes with flexible and reciprocal activities with their patients. The DEs owned these activities and they are: "building the bond," "sharing the session," "readying for change," "sending them home," and "bringing them back."
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/prevention & control , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy , Goals , Health Behavior , Patient Education as Topic/organization & administration , Self Care , Adult , Blood Glucose , Communication , Community Health Services , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Medication Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Middle Aged , Motivation , Professional-Patient Relations , Self Care/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , United StatesABSTRACT
The communication component of the Child Care MAPP Web site was designed according to an established theoretical base, and was critically reviewed. The communication materials were targeted for use by trainers who educate child care providers, and may be incorporated into higher education curricula to guide nutrition educators who will be working in child nutrition and child feeding programs. Evaluation of the impact of the communication materials on a group of trainers demonstrated a significant increase in participant confidence to communicate about nutrition. In particular, the child- and adult-centered phrases developed as a novel and developmentally appropriate approach to nutrition education were evaluated by respondents as useful, and were found to increase confidence to communicate with children. Future research should further examine the use of child-centered and adult-centered nutrition phrases in nutrition education and higher education, to determine whether the way in which adults talk with children improves children's knowledge about nutrition, and whether use of the phrases can positively affect children's nutrition behaviors.
Subject(s)
Child Care/methods , Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Health Education/methods , Health Promotion/methods , Adult , Caregivers , Child , Communication , Humans , Internet , Nutritive Value , Parents , Play and Playthings , Program Evaluation , School Health ServicesABSTRACT
Diabetes education programs need improved measures of goal setting for dietary control of diabetes. Additionally, measures of patient experiences with dietary goal setting are needed to better prepare patients for diabetes self-management. Measures of dietary goals and strategies were investigated via survey of 100 Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites with type 2 diabetes at a community clinic. Analyses tested novel goal measures as stages of change and goal attainment with a food plan compared to a traditional measure of food plan adherence. Ethnic groups varied in some reported experiences with goal setting education and goal attainment, but did not differ in most clinical characteristics of diabetes. Results indicated that different measures of goal setting vary in their psychosocial predictors, suggesting changes in how health care providers use and monitor goal setting for patients. At the time this research was conducted, Dr. Briggs Early was a doctoral candidate in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Washington State University. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Nutrition at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences - College of Osteopathic Medicine, and a certified diabetes educator, and insulin pump trainer in Yakima, Washington.