Understanding of blood pressure by people with type 2 diabetes: a primary care focus group study.
- 1 April 2005
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Vol. 55 (513), 298-304
Abstract
For many people with type 2 diabetes most care is provided in primary care. While people with both diabetes and hypertension are at increased risk of complications, little is known about their understanding of blood pressure. To explore the understanding and beliefs about the importance of blood pressure held by people with type 2 diabetes. Framework analysis of qualitative research using focus groups. Thirty-two participants were recruited from four general practices and a religious meeting group in Nottingham. Discussions took place in five community centres providing familiar surroundings for participants. In order to get views expressed fully, white, Asian, and African-Caribbean participants met in five separate groups. Facilitators were fluent in the appropriate language and one member of the research team was present at all focus groups. Some participants, including those with raised blood pressure, were not aware of the increased importance of achieving good blood pressure control. No participants mentioned the increased risk of eye or kidney disease as a result of the combination of diabetes and raised blood pressure. Participants' perceptions regarding the control of blood sugar and blood pressure were different: blood sugar control was seen as their responsibility but blood pressure control was seen as the responsibility of the doctor. There was scepticism regarding the diagnosis of raised blood pressure, of targets and the management of blood pressure. There was also scepticism about the advice and education about diabetes given in primary care. People with type 2 diabetes require more knowledge of the increased risks they have from raised blood pressure, although this alone is unlikely to improve blood-pressure control. Strategies to increase the degree of control over and responsibility taken for the control of blood pressure need development and may require the specific development of participatory and negotiating skills among people with type 2 diabetes. Increasing the participation of these people in their own care will require doctors and nurses to work in a different way.Keywords
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Provider–patient interaction in diabetes care: effects on patient self-care and outcomes: A systematic reviewPatient Education and Counseling, 2003
- Patients' experiences and opinions of home blood pressure measurementJournal of Human Hypertension, 2003
- Teaching patients to monitor their risk factors retards the progression of vascular complications in high‐risk patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus—a randomized prospective studyDiabetic Medicine, 2002
- The Impact of Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring on Metabolic Control and Quality of Life in Type 2 Diabetic PatientsDiabetes Care, 2001
- Variability in patient preferences for participating in medical decision making: implication for the use of decision support toolsQuality and Safety in Health Care, 2001
- Influence of patients' representations and beliefs about diabetes and its treatment on their adherence to therapy.2001
- Levels of compliance shown by hypertensive patients and their attitude toward their illnessJournal of Advanced Nursing, 2001
- A survey of diabetes care in general practice in England and Wales.2000
- Qualitative research in health care: Analysing qualitative dataBMJ, 2000
- Qualitative research methods in health technology assessment: a review of the literature.Health Technology Assessment, 1998