The role of significant others in the health behaviours of patients with Type 2 diabetes

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Attitudes to Three Weight Maintenance Strategies:A Qualitative Study

Weight loss maintenance can be difficult and ultimately unsuccessful, due to psychological, behavioural, social, and physiological influences. The present study investigated three strategies with the potential to improve weight maintenance success: daily weighing, missing an occasional meal, habitually changing high energy foods. The principal aim was to gain an understanding of attitudes to these strategies in participants who had recent experience of weight loss attempts, with or without maintenance. This was a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews, with 20 participants aged 18–67 (twelve females), analysed using thematic analysis. Most participants disliked daily weighing and missing an occasional meal for long-term maintenance and were concerned about potential negative effects on mental health. All participants had experience of habitual changes to high energy foods and regarded this strategy as obvious and straightforward. Replacement of high energy foods was favoured over elimination. Participants preferred strategies that felt flexible, “normal” and intuitive and disliked those that were thought to have a negative impact on mental health. Further investigation is needed on whether concerns regarding mental health are well founded and, if not, how the strategies can be made more acceptable and useful

Exploring support needs of people living with diabetes during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic: insights from a UK survey

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has radically compromised healthcare for people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes. Government-imposed restrictions to contain the spread of the virus have forced people to suddenly adjust their lifestyle. This study aimed to capture the impact of the pandemic on people living with diabetes and the views of these individuals on ways in which the information, advice and support they are receiving could be improved. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: An online anonymous survey was distributed across the UK during the first lockdown and initial easing. The survey comprised questions about confidence in diabetes self-management, resources used to obtain information, advice and support, and opinions on how these could be improved. Open-ended questions captured subjective experiences. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 773 adults with diabetes (69.2% type 1, 28.5% type 2). There was notable variability in the impact of the pandemic on confidence in self-management, with confidence having deteriorated most commonly in the ability to take care of own mental well-being (37.0% respondents) and improved most commonly in maintaining a healthy weight (21.1% respondents). 41.2% of respondents living alone reported not receiving any outside support. The quality of information, advice and support received from the healthcare team was rated poorly by 37.2%. Respondents sought greater communication and tailored advice from their care team, clear and consistent information from the government and news channels, and improved understanding of diabetes and its challenges from their personal networks and employers. CONCLUSION: Adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the mental health and well-being of people living with diabetes. Diabetes care teams must receive assistance to support these individuals without risking further inequalities in access to healthcare. Equipping personal networks and employers with knowledge on diabetes and skills to support self-management may reduce the burden on the National Health Service

The role of the clinical nurse specialist from the perspective of parents of children born with cleft lip and/or palate in the United Kingdom:a qualitative study

This qualitative study explores parents' perspectives of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) after diagnosis of cleft lip and/or palate and while preparing for/after lip or palate closure and other events on the cleft treatment pathway in the United Kingdom.Parents with children on the "cleft treatment pathway" were recruited from multiple regions across the United Kingdom. In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 parents of children born with cleft lip and/or palate.Thematic analysis identified 4 key themes: relationship with CNS, information provision, preoperative care and multidisciplinary team (MDT), and postoperative support.Clinical nurse specialists are a highly valued point of contact and act as a trusted mediator between parents and other professionals in the MDT. Clinical nurse specialists are important gatekeepers in providing support and information and developing trust after diagnosis and birth and throughout the cleft treatment pathway.The present findings affirm the emotional, social, and informational support that the CNS can offer parents whose children are on a cleft treatment pathway. The CNS is a vital member of the cleft service MDT

Children’s, parents' and health professionals' views on the management of childhood asthma:a qualitative study

Childhood asthma: Guiding families through disease management Both parents’ and children’s perceptions and understanding of childhood asthma should be considered when developing asthma management plans. The management of asthma is challenging and can result in poor disease outcomes if care is not taken. An individual’s perception of their (or their child’s) asthma can also affect the efficacy of treatment. Aidan Searle at the Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, UK, and co-workers, interviewed nine parent-child groups and thirteen health professionals to determine their perceptions of childhood asthma management in primary care. While some children had a strong awareness of symptoms and appropriate medication use, some parents found it difficult to identify asthma triggers and symptoms. Parents also displayed a lack of understanding of management through medication. Health professionals focused on the need for clearer information for families when guiding management of childhood asthma