I have never been invited-A cross-sectional explorative study of family members' experiences of encounters with healthcare professionals in diabetes care.

AIM: To explore the experiences of family members of adult persons with type 1 diabetes concerning both the approach of healthcare professionals and feelings of alienation in encounters with professional diabetes care. METHODS: A cross-sectional explorative quantitative and qualitative design. The Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire-Revised (FIAQ-R), including an open-ended question, was answered by 37 family members of adult persons with type 1 diabetes. Analyses included descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis. The study has received ethical approval. RESULTS: Family members rated the approach of the healthcare professionals as being somewhat positive and considered that the approach towards them is important. They only felt partially alienated from the professional care. Qualitative data revealed that the family members often lacked direct access to the professional care and that their involvement was dependent on their relationship with the person with diabetes. Findings highlighted that the family members' wish to be involved in the care was sometimes unanswered. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, it is reasonable to stress the importance of considering family members' perspectives and involving them in diabetes care to improve overall patient support.

Time and change: a typology for presenting research findings in qualitative longitudinal research.

BACKGROUND: Qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) is an emerging methodology used in health research. The method literature states that the change in a phenomenon through time should be the focus of any QLR study, but in empirical studies, the analysis of changes through time is often poorly described, and the emphasis on time/change in the findings varies greatly. This inconsistency might depend on limitations in the existing method literature in terms of describing how QLR studies can present findings. The aim of this study was to develop and describe a typology of alternative approaches for integrating time and/or change in QLR findings. METHODS: In this method study, we used an adapted scoping review design. Articles were identified using EBSCOhost. In total, methods and results sections from 299 QLR articles in the field of health research were analyzed with inspiration from content analysis. RESULTS: We constructed a typology of three types and seven subtypes. The types were based on the underlying structural principles of how time/change was presented: Type A) Findings have a low utilization of longitudinal data, Type B) Findings are structured according to chronological time, and Type C) Findings focus on changes through time. These types differed in 1) the way the main focus was on time, change or neither; 2) the level of interpretation in the findings; and 3) how theoretical understandings of time/change were articulated in the articles. Each type encompassed two or three subtypes that represented distinct approaches to the aim and results presentation of QLR findings. CONCLUSIONS: This method study is the first to describe a coherent and comprehensive typology of alternative approaches for integrating time/change into QLR findings in health research. By providing examples of various subtypes that can be used for results presentations, it can help researchers make informed decisions suitable to their research intent.

Voices of women in homelessness during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic: a co-created qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Women in homelessness face extreme health- and social inequities. It could be postulated that during societal crises, they become even more vulnerable. Thus, the aim was to explore experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic among women in homelessness. METHODS: Ten interviews were conducted with women in homelessness, in Stockholm, Sweden, using researcher-driven photo elicitation. The data analysis was guided by the DEPICT model for collaborative data analysis and a qualitative content analysis was performed. A collaborative reference group of women with lived experience of homelessness contributed to the research process through designing the data collection, performing the data analysis, and providing feedback during report writing. RESULTS: For women in homelessness, the COVID-19 pandemic was adding insult to injury, as it significantly affected everyday life and permeated most aspects of existence, leading to diminished interactions with others and reduced societal support. Thus, in an already dire situation, the virus amplified health- and social issues to another level. The women strived to find their balance on the shifting sands of guidelines and restrictions due to the pandemic. Adhering to the new social distancing rules and guidelines in line with the rest of society, was simply impossible when experiencing homelessness. However, for some women the pandemic was nothing but a storm in a teacup. The harsh reality continued irrespectively, living one day at a time and prioritizing provision for basic human needs. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic and homelessness can be viewed as two intersecting crises. However, the women's aggregated experiences were greater than the sum of experiencing homelessness and meeting the threat of the virus. Gender, exposure to violence, poverty, social isolation, and substance use were additional factors that further marginalized the women during the pandemic. To rebuild a better and more sustainable post-pandemic future for all, global commitment to ending homelessness is crucial. In addition, addressing social determinants of health must be the number one health intervention.

Qualitative longitudinal research in health research: a method study.

BACKGROUND: Qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) comprises qualitative studies, with repeated data collection, that focus on the temporality (e.g., time and change) of a phenomenon. The use of QLR is increasing in health research since many topics within health involve change (e.g., progressive illness, rehabilitation). A method study can provide an insightful understanding of the use, trends and variations within this approach. The aim of this study was to map how QLR articles within the existing health research literature are designed to capture aspects of time and/or change. METHODS: This method study used an adapted scoping review design. Articles were eligible if they were written in English, published between 2017 and 2019, and reported results from qualitative data collected at different time points/time waves with the same sample or in the same setting. Articles were identified using EBSCOhost. Two independent reviewers performed the screening, selection and charting. RESULTS: A total of 299 articles were included. There was great variation among the articles in the use of methodological traditions, type of data, length of data collection, and components of longitudinal data collection. However, the majority of articles represented large studies and were based on individual interview data. Approximately half of the articles self-identified as QLR studies or as following a QLR design, although slightly less than 20% of them included QLR method literature in their method sections. CONCLUSIONS: QLR is often used in large complex studies. Some articles were thoroughly designed to capture time/change throughout the methodology, aim and data collection, while other articles included few elements of QLR. Longitudinal data collection includes several components, such as what entities are followed across time, the tempo of data collection, and to what extent the data collection is preplanned or adapted across time. Therefore, there are several practices and possibilities researchers should consider before starting a QLR project.

Reflections on health among women in homelessness: A qualitative study.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Previous research reports that people in homelessness have poor physical and mental health and are excluded from society with risk for loneliness and social exclusion. Women in homelessness face particularly vulnerable circumstances with significant risks of harm. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Feelings of having a home is a basis for meeting physical, psychosocial, and existential needs related to health. Being involved in authentic relationships and caring for others gives women in homelessness a sense of worth. To be accepted by others and feeling like an equal was important for experiences of preserved dignity. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Nurses need to recognize and support women in homelessness for their capacity to heal and to experience health. To regard women in homelessness as active health-seekers, instead of passive victims, can improve women's experiences of care provided by mental health professionals. Nurses can promote health by regarding women as resourceful and active, despite the fact that they live in homelessness. ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Mental health issues are common among women in homelessness, alongside undertreated chronic physical conditions leading to serious and unnecessary complications. Even though homelessness and risks of impaired health have been researched, broader perspectives of health are absent. AIM: To describe reflections on health among women with experiences of homelessness. METHOD: We conducted 13 interviews with women in homelessness using researcher-driven photograph elicitation. Together with an advisory board of women with lived experience of homelessness, researchers were guided by the DEPICT model for collaborative data analysis and performed a thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Women with experiences of homelessness emphasized three main resources for achieving health and well-being: feelings of having a home, being involved in authentic relationships and experiences of preserved dignity. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: Healthcare needs to integrate the perceived resources for health and well-being when caring for women in homelessness. It is imperative since women will return to the healthcare setting only if they feel safe and secure, and only if dignity is preserved or restored. The results promote utilization of an integrative nursing approach; understanding that the health of women in homelessness is inseparable from their environment and social determinants for health, such as housing and social integration.

A survey study of family members' encounters with healthcare services within the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care.

The aim of this study was to describe and compare family members' experiences of approach in encounters with healthcare professionals and possible feelings of alienation in the professional care within four care contexts: the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care. The design was an explorative cross-sectional survey study. Data were collected in Sweden using the Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire-Revised (FIAQ-R). It measures family members' experiences of the healthcare professionals' approach and the family members' feeling of alienation from the provision of professional care. A total of 1047 questionnaires were distributed to family members using convenient sampling method, of which 294 were included. Data were analysed using rank-based, non-parametric statistical methods. The results indicated that most respondents experienced a positive actual approach from the healthcare professionals. Many participants rated the importance of approach at a higher level than their actual experience. Participants in the context of diabetes care reported a more negative actual approach from the healthcare professionals than did participants in the other contexts and considered the healthcare professionals' approach towards them as being less important. The results for the entire group indicated that the participants felt a low level of alienation from the professional care. Participants in the context of the care of older people reported significantly lower level of feeling of being alienated than did participants in the contexts of psychiatric care and diabetes care. The differences between participants in diabetes care and other care contexts can possibly be explained by a more fully implemented self-care approach among the patients in diabetes care than in the other care contexts. Even though the results are quite positive, it is still important that nurses consider a family-centred approach to better adapt to the needs of both the family members and the patients.

"Stripped of dignity" - Women in homelessness and their perspectives of healthcare services: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: A much more substantial European evidence base on the accessibility of healthcare services among women experiencing homelessness across healthcare systems in Europe is warranted. OBJECTIVE: To give voice to women with experiences of homelessness, and to explore their perspectives of healthcare services in an EU country with universal healthcare. DESIGN: The study is part of a research program striving to promote equal healthcare through co-production with women in homelessness. An advisory board of women with lived experience of homelessness was established and a qualitative, interpretive and exploratory design was employed. PARTICIPANTS: 26 women with experience of homelessness were interviewed. Their median age was 46 years (range 42) and 70% were roofless/houseless. METHODS: Data were analyzed with content analysis. Co-production and joint analyses were conducted by researchers and three women with experience of homelessness, using the DEPICT model for collaborative analysis. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in one overall theme: Visiting healthcare from the outskirts of society, comprising three sub-themes: Demand for a life in order - Exclusion in action; Unwell, unsafe and a woman - Multifaceted needs challenge healthcare; and Abuse versus humanity - power of healthcare encounters to raise or reduce. Women's experiences of care encounters were disparate, with prevalent control, mistrust and stigma, yet healthcare professionals that demonstrated respect for the woman's human dignity was described both as life-altering and lifesaving. CONCLUSIONS: Women in homelessness live on the outskirts of society and have multiple experiences of exclusion and loss of dignity within healthcare services. The multifaceted care needs challenge healthcare, leading to women feeling alienated, invisible, disconnected and worthless. We urge registered nurses to take actions for inclusion health, i.e. focusing health efforts of people experiencing extreme health inequities. We can lead the way by speaking up and confronting discriminating behaviors, protecting and restoring human dignity in caring relationships, and framing healthcare services for all citizens. Tweetable abstract: Women in homelessness have multiple experiences of exclusion and loss of dignity within healthcare services. Nurses must frame healthcare to include all citizens.

Design and Development of an eHealth Service for Collaborative Self-Management among Older Adults with Chronic Diseases: A Theory-Driven User-Centered Approach.

The increasing prevalence of chronic conditions and multimorbidity poses great challenges to healthcare systems. As patients' engagement in self-managing their chronic conditions becomes increasingly important, eHealth interventions are a promising resource for the provision of adequate and timely support. However, there is inconclusive evidence about how to design eHealth services to meet the complex needs of patients. This study applied an evidence-based and theory-informed user-centered design approach in three phases to identify the needs of older adults and healthcare professionals in the collaborative management of multimorbidity (phase 1), develop an eHealth service to address these needs (phase 2), and test the feasibility and acceptance of the eHealth service in a clinical setting (phase 3). Twenty-two user needs were identified and a web-based application-ePATH (electronic Patient Activation in Treatment at Home)-with separate user interfaces for patients and healthcare professionals was developed. The feasibility study with two nurses and five patients led to a redesign and highlighted the importance of adequately addressing not only varying user needs but also the complex nature of healthcare organizations when implementing new services and processes in chronic care management.

The Information Flow in a Healthcare Organisation with Integrated Units.

INTRODUCTION: Integrated care is believed to provide support to patients with multiple long-term and complex conditions. Transparency in information delivery is key for shared decision-making, and co-production of care. This study aimed to explore information pathways within an integrated healthcare and social care organisation and describe how information continuity was delivered for an older patient with complex care needs. METHODS: An explorative single-case study conducted in a Swedish healthcare organization where municipality and the county council have integrated their services. One focus group discussion and six individual interviews were conducted. RESULTS: Information flow to partners in care was obstructed, with compensatory double documentation, complementary information channels, and information loss. A heavy burden was on the patient and relatives to keep track of and communicate information between different caregivers. Patients were expected to be active partners in their own care, but were largely excluded from the information flow. DISCUSSION: Even integration of care organisations does not imply that integrated care is delivered at the sharp end of practice. An integrated electronic health record is needed to improve accessibility of care information from within all the organisations, facilitating handovers between professionals and levels of care, and involving patients in the information flow.

Communication skills in nursing: A phenomenologically-based communication training approach.

The aim of this article is to present a communication skills training curriculum for nursing students, based upon phenomenology. Research shows that nurses have difficulty prioritizing dialogue with patients, due to lack of time, organizational and cultural factors. Like other health care professionals, nurses may also have difficulties communicating with patients due to personal fears and shortcomings. The communication training curriculum based upon phenomenology aims at systematically training students to stay focused upon patients' and relatives' narratives, allowing them to reflect upon and better understand their current situation. This approach to communication is applicable in any clinical situation where it important to provide space for the patients' experiences. The philosophical principles guiding the training are presented here as well as the practical steps in the program. Finally, the approach is compared to other common communication methods used in nursing (motivational interviewing, caring conversations, empathy training). The authors hope that the article will highlight the nurses' role as dialogue partner as well as emphasize the importance of communication skills training in nursing education. This approach can be refined, tested and modified in future research and may serve as an inspirational model for creating a generic communicative competence for nurses. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Analyzing variations in changes over time: development of the Pattern-Oriented Longitudinal Analysis approach.

Longitudinal qualitative research in nursing is rare but becoming more common. Data collection and analysis over time provide some intriguing possibilities to better understand processes, development, and change in illness experience, healthcare organizations, and self-management. This paper aims to present a process for analyzing qualitative longitudinal data material, namely the Pattern-Oriented Longitudinal Analysis approach (POLA). We developed this approach after synthesizing experiences from two longitudinal qualitative projects and comparing our procedures and reflections with the relevant literature. Using the POLA approach, researchers can describe complexity and variation in changes over time. During the analysis process, emphasis is put on visualizing and identifying change at both an individual and a group level. Ontological and epistemological assumptions for the approach are also described. The benefit of this approach is the possibility to describe complexity and diversity in processes over time, which is important for the development of nursing knowledge. The analysis approach can be further used and developed by researchers seeking to understand variance or contextual features in processes and changes over time.

Not a Straight Line-Patients' Experiences of Prostate Cancer and Their Journey Through the Healthcare System.

BACKGROUND: Cancer and its treatment can severely impact quality of life, giving rise to complex needs with respect to follow-up care. To support patient needs and increase efficiency of care with limited resources, the Swedish government has launched national reforms to redesign cancer care pathways. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore how prostate cancer patients experience their journey through the healthcare system when their care is provided according to the standardized care pathway, as described in healthcare policy documents. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive approach with individual interviews was used. A template of a standardized prostate cancer pathway, created together with healthcare professionals, was used during interviews. Fourteen interviews were conducted with prostate cancer patients all operated on at a midsized hospital in southeast Sweden between October 2015 and April 2016. The interviews were analyzed with qualitative content analysis and illustrated in a patient journey map. RESULTS: We identified an overall theme, "walking a tightrope," consisting of 4 categories: "waiting," "becoming familiar with a troublesome body," "adjusting to a different life," and "information challenges." CONCLUSIONS: The clinical implementation of the standardized care pathway is described as a straight path through care, but patients described their experiences as walking a tightrope. Lack of information, especially about cancer treatment and its adverse effects, was the most common experience. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our findings indicate areas where further healthcare tools could improve patient experiences of cancer treatment. This could include offering individualized information and tools to increase patient empowerment, as well as patient/caregiver collaboration (co-care).

Adaptation and evaluation of the Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire for use in the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care.

AIM: To adapt the Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire (FIAQ) for use in the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care and to evaluate its validity and reliability. BACKGROUND: Involvement in the professional care has proven to be important for family members. However, they have described feelings of alienation in relation to how they experienced the professionals' approach. To explore this issue, a broad instrument that can be used in different care contexts is needed. DESIGN: A psychometric evaluation study, with a cross-sectional design. METHOD: The content validity of the FIAQ was evaluated during 2014 by cognitive interviews with 15 family members to adults in different care contexts. Psychometric evaluation was then conducted (2015-2016). A sample of 325 family members participated, 103 of whom in a test-retest evaluation. Both parametric and non-parametric methods were used. RESULTS: The content validity revealed that the questionnaire was generally understood and considered to be relevant and retrievable by family members in the contexts of the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care. Furthermore, the FIAQ (Revised), demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties in terms of data quality, homogeneity, unidimensionality (factor structure), internal consistency and test-retest reliability. CONCLUSION: The study provides evidence that the FIAQ (Revised) is reliable and valid for use in further research and in quality assessment in the contexts of the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care.

The Supporting Patient Activation in Transition to Home (sPATH) intervention: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial using motivational interviewing to decrease re-hospitalisation for patients with COPD or heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: Deficient hospital discharging and patients struggling to handle postdischarge self-management have been identified as potential causes of re-hospitalisation rates. Despite an increased interest in interventions aiming to reduce re-hospitalisation rates, there is yet no best evidence on how to support patients in being active participants in their self-management postdischarge. The aim of this paper is to describe the study protocol for an upcoming randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the Supporting Patient in Activation to Home (sPATH) intervention. METHODS/ANALYSIS: The described study is a randomised, controlled, analysis-blinded, two-site trial, with primary outcome re-hospitalisation within 90 days. In total, 290 participants aged 18 years or older with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure who are admitted to hospital and who are living in an own home will be eligible for inclusion into an intervention (n=145) or control group (n=145). Patients who need an interpreter to communicate in Swedish, or who have a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment, will be excluded from inclusion. The sPATH intervention, developed with a theoretical base in the self-determination theory, consists of five postdischarge motivational interviewing sessions (face to face or by phone). The intervention covers the self-management areas medication management, follow-up/care plan, symptoms/signs of worsening condition and relations/contacts with healthcare providers. This RCT will add to the literature on evidence to support patient activation in postdischarge self-management. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study is approved by the Regional Research Ethics Committee (No. 2014/1498-31/2) in Stockholm, Sweden. The results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international and national scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02823795; Pre-results.

Encumbered by vulnerability and temporality - the meanings of trigger situations when learning to live with diabetes.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to illuminate the meanings of trigger situations experienced in everyday life when learning to live with diabetes. BACKGROUND: Adults become active learners when faced with situations they do not know how to manage, triggering a need to understand something in a different way than before. Knowing more about experiential learning for persons living with diabetes is important for understanding how learning can be supported by health care. DESIGN: A life-world approach with a phenomenological hermeneutical method, inspired by the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur. METHODS: This method was used for interpreting transcriptions of interviews and consists of three stages: naïve understanding, structural analysis and a comprehensive understanding. Participants (n = 13), with either type I or type II diabetes, were interviewed on three different occasions over a three-year period after being diagnosed with diabetes. RESULTS: When learning to live with diabetes, the meanings of trigger situations were described as 'the unpredictable body heightens insecurity with awareness of one's own dependability', 'losing control in unsustainable situations' and 'encumbered by vulnerability and temporality in earlier familiar situations'. CONCLUSION: The meanings of trigger situations were to lose the smooth, unreflected way of managing an everyday life situation, interlaced with feelings of lost control of how to live with new insights of being vulnerable. Trigger situations meant an opportunity for learning, as well as being demanding, unplanned and with limited freedom of choice. Trigger situations presented life and body as unpredictable. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: If healthcare professionals can identify the worries and questions raised in trigger situations, knowledge gaps can be identified and reflected on to stimulate learning.

Taking part in Nordic collaboration; nursing students' experiences and perceptions from a learning perspective: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Nordic networking of different kinds has a long tradition aiming to increase collaboration and understanding between citizens in different countries. Cultural competence in relation to health care and nursing is important for clinical nurses and is a central issue in nurse education. OBJECTIVE: To gain an understanding of what nurse students experienced and learned during an intensive course in diabetes together with students and nurse educators from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands. METHODS: In 2012, an intensive course within the Nordic network, Nordkvist, was conducted in Faroe Islands with the theme "Nursing - to live a good life with diabetes". To answer the objective of the study, 26 students conducted written reflections based on two questions. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Through meetings with nurse students and educators from the Nordic countries the intensive course strengthened the students' identification with the nursing profession. The students gained new perspectives on diabetes, such as how complex it can be to live with a chronic illness. Because of the difficulties in understanding one another and because of different mother tongues, the students gained a better understanding of patients' vulnerability in relation to hospital jargon and how it felt to be in an unfamiliar place. CONCLUSIONS: The intensive course increased the students' personal and professional growth, cross-cultural competence, and their identification with nursing. Students' understanding of health care in the Nordic countries improved as similarities and differences were recognized.

Living with diabetes - development of learning patterns over a 3-year period.

BACKGROUND: Learning involves acquiring new knowledge and skills, and changing our ways of thinking, acting, and feeling. Learning in relation to living with diabetes is a lifelong process where there is limited knowledge of how it is experienced and established over time. It was considered important to explore how learning was developed over time for persons living with diabetes. AIM: The aim of the study was to identify patterns in learning when living with diabetes, from recently being diagnosed, and over a 3-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal qualitative descriptive design was used. Thirteen participants, with both type I and type II diabetes, were interviewed at three different occasions during a 3-year period. Qualitative content analysis was used in different steps in order to distinguish patterns. FINDINGS: Five main patterns of learning were identified. Two of the patterns (I and II) were characterized by gradually becoming comfortable living with diabetes, whereas for one pattern (IV) living with diabetes became gradually more difficult. For pattern V living with diabetes was making only a limited impact on life, whereas for Pattern III there was a constant management of obstacles related to illness. The different patterns in the present study showed common and different ways of learning and using different learning strategies at different timespans. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that duration of illness is not of importance for how far a person has come in his own learning process. A person-centered care is needed to meet the different and changing needs of persons living with diabetes in relation to learning to live with a lifelong illness.

Learning to live with diabetes--integrating an illness or objectifying a disease.

AIM: This paper is a report of a study of illuminating the meaning of 'learning to live with diabetes' 3 years after being diagnosed. BACKGROUND: A changed situation, for example, in relation to living with diabetes, raises a need to understand. How time for experience contributes to this learning process for people living with diabetes is not yet well understood. It would therefore seem valuable to ask people, who have had diabetes over a similar length of time, to narrate their experience in relation to daily life situations in order to understand better how learning is established. DESIGN: The study has a qualitative design. METHODS: A life world approach was used, with interviews being conducted with 13 people who had been diagnosed with diabetes 3 years earlier. Data were collected in 2007, and analyses were conducted using a phenomenological-hermeneutic method. FINDINGS: How a person experiences the physical body was found to be crucial in the learning process. If the body with its signals is understood it can be a tool for experiencing and understanding the world and oneself. Feeling insecure about one's own needs, and not trusting or understanding bodily signs, made participants dependent on others to make decisions for them. CONCLUSION: This study showed that duration of illness was 'not' of importance for the understanding of living with diabetes. Living with diabetes 3 years after being diagnosed meant to experience both an overall balance in one's existence and a daily struggle.

Learning to live with illness: experiences of persons with recent diagnoses of diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The process of learning to live with an illness is complex. By better understanding the learning process for persons with diabetes in the early stage of the illness, the role of the health care can be shown. AIM: To reach an understanding of how learning to live with diabetes is experienced in the first 2 months after diagnosis. METHOD: A qualitative descriptive design was used, and interviews were conducted. Thirteen participants with a recent diagnosis of diabetes were included and asked to narrate about their experience of living with diabetes. Qualitative inductive content analysis was used. FINDINGS: Four themes emerged: 'taken over by a new reality', 'the body plays a role in life', 'different ways of learning' and 'the healthcare service as a necessary partner'. CONCLUSION: People with short-term experience of the illness gained knowledge through personal resources such as their own experience and self-reflection. The learning process includes an inner dialogue between the self, the body and the life. Participants were concerned with grasping a new reality and understanding a different self and body where lifestyle changes and uncertainty were present. When health care was accessible and sensitive to their needs, those with short-term experience of diabetes chose the staff as key players in the early stages of their life with diabetes.