Abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore patterns,
properties, and conditions of the transition from use of oral hypoglycemic agents to
insulin treatment of persons with type 2 diabetes. Purposive sampling was used to
recruit a sample of 40 persons with type 2 diabetes who sought treatment at the
medical outpatient department at Ramathibodi Hospital. Data were collected with a
semi-structured interview from April to May, 2008. The instruments used in the study
included the Demographic Data Form, the Clinical Data Record Form and Interview
Guide developed by the researcher. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics
and content analysis.
The results revealed that patterns of transition could be identified as single
transitions caused by health conditions and illness of having diabetes, or multiples
with simultaneous caused by changes in their life regarding health conditions, role as
caregiver in their family, physical limitations, changing their financial status and their
works. Properties of transition were characterized as five components: 1) awareness of
the transition from use of oral hypoglycemic agents to insulin treatment, but the onset
of awareness varied; 2) engagement in using insulin in their daily activities; 3)
changes in their lifestyles in terms of diet, physical activity, and self-monitoring of
blood glucose to be congruent with insulin treatment; 4) time span of changes varied
form 2 weeks to 6 months or even longer in some informants; and 5) critical points
and events in this study were the treatment change from oral hypoglycemic agents to
insulin treatment. Transitional conditions included meanings given to the transition,
knowledge and preparation, socioeconomic status, health status, insulin delivery
devices, social support, and concomitant events.
This study elucidates the phenomenon of transition from the use of oral
hypoglycemic agents to insulin treatment of persons with type 2 diabetes in terms of
patterns, properties, and transitional conditions. This information will help healthcare
providers to understand the experiences of people with type 2 diabetes and help them
pass through their transition in a healthy fashion