Tailoring teaching of diabetes self-management behaviors for adults facing social and economic challenges: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVE: While health literacy interventions have been shown to increase knowledge, self-management behaviors, and glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and facing social and economic challenges (SEC), research on their implementation in real-world primary care setting is limited. The objective of this study was to identify methods health professionals use to educate patients with T2D and facing SEC to improve their self-management behaviors. 

METHODS: Health professionals (nurses, diabetes care and education specialists, primary care providers, pharmacists, and medical assistants) from three primary care clinics in the Midwest United States were recruited to share strategies they use to promote self-management behaviors among patients facing SEC. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted for this naturalistic inquiry guided by the Self- and Family Management Framework. Interviews were transcribed and coded for conventional content analysis. 

RESULTS: Twenty-nine healthcare professionals participated in the study. They described five methods to tailor teaching self-management behaviors to patients facing SEC: using multiple venues for education, using tactics of simple language and repetition, personalizing recommendations, using visual aids, and using the patient's data as a teaching example. 

CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals in primary care identified creative strategies, tailored to the needs and strengths of individual patients to improve diabetes self-management understanding and behaviors.