Insights into self-care behavior of patients with diabetes: Support using a computerized self-evaluation system

Abstract

Objective: In the present study, outpatients with diabetes were encouraged to perform self-evaluation in order to clarify their responses on how they perceived self-care and the significance they attached to it.

Methods: The approach of encouraging patients to perform self-evaluation was then qualitatively assessed. Five patients with diabetes performed the self-evaluation using a self-care evaluation scale displayed on a touch panel. All patients were then interviewed while referring to their responses. The study data were collected between June 2011 and April 2012 during outpatient visits scheduled once or twice a month. The data were analyzed using the total quality control method proposed by Jiro Kawakita (the "KJ Method").

Results: During their visits, the patients who performed the self-evaluation told the study investigators the following: 1) although they had tried to shut themselves off from the barriers posed by living with diabetes, they also seized opportunities to face them; (2) by recognizing their lack of self-confidence, they were motivated from their hesitation to take a step forward; (3) they had a willingness both to recognize the positive and negative aspects of living with diabetes and to adopt an objective view of self-care; and (4) they could communicate their needs and their own next step to medical personnel.

Conclusions: The way that these patients with diabetes perceived self-care and the significance they attached to it changed according to daily occurrences, life events, and response to treatment. The self-evaluation was an important activity in promoting the patients' self-development and independence, suggesting that awareness, understanding, and support for self-evaluation of patients with diabetes and evaluation by supporting nurses can, in the context of the patient-nurse relationship, give rise to mutual responsibilities and put patients on the road to achieving self-care firmly grounded in self-awareness and independence.