Perceptions of Family Among Low-Income Patients With Diabetes in a Text-Based Mobile Health Intervention
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Diabetes disproportionately affects the US Latino population, due to socioeconomic pressures, genetics, reduced access to care and cultural practices. While efforts to improve self-care through interventions incorporating family are highly rated by Latinos, family can be both supportive and obstructive. To develop effective interventions, this role needs clarification. METHODS: We conducted group interviews in Spanish and English with 24 participants with diabetes from a mobile health diabetes self-care intervention. We imported transcripts into Dedoose, a qualitative computer analysis program and analyzed them with a modified grounded theory technique. Utilizing an iterative process, we reexamined transcripts with new codes derived in each round of analysis until saturation was reached. We employed techniques to improve trustworthiness (co-coding, member checking). Broad categorical themes arose from the initial codes and were developed into a conceptual model of barriers to and strategies for diabetes management. RESULTS: Family and family responsibilities emerged as both a supportive and obstructive force for diabetes self-care. While the desire to care for family motivated patients, food at family gatherings and pressure from managing multiple family responsibilities contributed to poor diet choices. Yet, some patients believed their diabetes caused their immediate family to make healthier choices. CONCLUSIONS: Among these predominantly Latino patients, family and family responsibilities were key motivators as well as obstacles to self-care, particularly regarding nutrition. Finding the ideal design for social support mHealth-based interventions will require careful study and creation of culturally based programs to match the needs of specific populations, and may require educating family members to provide effective social support.
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G2984450067, Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Text-Based mHealth for Emergency department patients with Diabetes (TExT-MED), Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, G8071234126, Trial to Examine Text Message-based mHealth in Emergency department patients with Diabetes with Family And friends Network Supporters (TExT-MED+FANS), Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute
OpenAlex ID: W2799345063