A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY OF SELF-CARE PROCESSES AMONG THAI ADULTS WITH DIABETES.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 259
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Public Health.; Education, Health.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify self-care from the perspective of Thai adults with diabetes who live in the Khon Kaen province, of the Northeast region, Thailand. The illness experiences and life management of persons with diabetes as well as their families through the course of the disease were explored within their natural contexts. The aim of this study was to develop a substantive theory about the self-care phenomenon of Thai adults with diabetes.

A grounded theory study was conducted with 32 participants with insulin and non-insulin treated diabetes. Participants were recruited from five hospitals located in Khon Kaen province. "Self-care management" was identified from the data as the central phenomenon of the self-care processes of persons with diabetes. Self-care management comprised three phases: pre-diagnostic and diagnostic; managing diabetes; and managing and living with diabetes. Four self-care processes were identified within the three phases of self-care management: learning about diabetes, trial and error, sacrifice, and going on with life. "Learning about diabetes" was found during the pre-diagnostic and diagnostic phase. "Trial and error" was found in the managing diabetes phase. During trial and error, participants sought cures from modern, traditional and alternative therapies that were available in their own cultural health care system. "Sacrifice" was found during the phase of managing diabetes. Participants decided to give up their normal lifestyles and develop new lifestyles, as well as new roles. In the managing and living with diabetes phase, "going on with life" was identified. Self-care strategies used by participants in the "going on with life" were: keeping routines, compromising, self-regulation and planning for uncertainty. "Going on with life" usually accompanied "trial and error" and "sacrifice" in the last phase, managing and living with diabetes.

The conceptualization of self-care as a progressive process suggests the need for specific intervention models for participants in each phase. Health care providers should promote self-care and provide health care services that integrate both scientific and cultural knowledge for clients with diabetes. The findings help further the clarification of self-care definitions and models used in nursing theory, research and practice.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-06, Section: B, page: 3660.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1996.

School code: 0227.