Understanding Stigma in Type 1 Diabetes

This assignment delves into a qualitative study examining the stigma experienced by Australians living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM). The research, conducted by Browne et al., explores how societal perceptions and personal experiences contribute to feelings of blame, exclusion, and discrimination among individuals with T1DM. The study highlights the impact of stigma on various aspects of life, including social relationships, psychological well-being, and behavioral management. It underscores the need for greater awareness and understanding to combat the negative effects of stigma associated with T1DM.

Qualitative research
Evidence Based Practice- Qualitative research
Introduction
The qualitative study on ‘I am not a druggie (drug taker) but I am just having
diabetes mellitus’: a qualitative-research study on the stigma that is perceived by the
individuals with diabetes mellitus (type- 1)’ was selected. The authors Browne from
Australian- centre for behavioral- researches as well as psychological health with
wellbeing; Ventura from centre for behavioral- researches and Deakin- school- of-
psychology; Mosely from Strathfield- school- of- psychology and Speight from centre for
behavioral- researches, psychological health and AHP research have contributed to this
study. This study was carried out in 2014 among Australians with an aim to explore the
perception as well as experience of stigma in persons having type-1 diabetes (T1DM).
Though many studies have been conducted to explore stigma in HIV/AIDS and obesity,
diabetes has not got enough attention and hence they have proposed this study.
Qualitative research
Qualitative research is defined as a sequential, highly-interactive (with
individuals) and subjective design that is applied to understand the underlying causes,
facts, opinions as well as motivations and describe an individual’s- life experiences by
giving them meaning (Yin, 2015). Qualitative study is carried out to explore and
enhance the understanding of individual’s experiences that includes pain, comfort or
psychological wellbeing (Grossoehme, 2013, Polit, 2016). In this study, a qualitative
research design was used to explore the stigma that is experienced by the T1DM
individuals by conducting semi- structured interview. It helps to drive deeper into the
problems faced by persons with T1DM to find solutions.
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Qualitative research
Methodology
The research methodology is a systematic way that is used to structure a
research- study and to collect and analyze data that are relevant to research question.
Qualitative research mostly associates with naturalistic inquiry that aims to study the
problems of human complexity by deeply exploring it (Polit, 2016, Panneerselvam,
2014). It aims for a full, detailed and complete description of observed issues that
includes the core-context of issues and the evolved circumstances. In this study, they
have designed a semi-structured interview schedule to elicit the perceived stigma of
diabetic persons (Browne, 2013). They have selected 79 individuals with diabetes; aged
≥18 years; knows and speaks English and lives in Victoria, Australia among which they
have selected 27 samples through purposive sampling to promote gender balance and
avoid wide age and diabetic duration ranges. Interviewers have allowed samples to
share their societal experiences of being with diabetes in a greater- context range as
health sector, work-area, societal and familial environments and in media. They have
used a questionnaire to collect demographic and clinical data. The collected
informations were audio- taped, transcribed and thematically analyzed.
Ethics
Ethics is defined as a system with moral values that is particularly concerned
about the extent to which the research procedures follow the professional, ethical, legal
with societal obligations to the study- samples (Polit, 2016). The authors have got
ethical clearance from the Human- research ethical committee of Deakin University
before preceding this study in T1DM patients. Additionally, they have got consent from
every patient before conducting interview. This study suggests that they have followed
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Qualitative research
the ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for human dignity and
justice.
Findings/Results
The results are the answers for the research questions that are obtained by the
data analysis of the collected data and the findings are the results of data analysis
(Polit, 2016). The study findings suggest that most of the T1DM Australians experiences
T1DM related-stigma along with stigma associated with T2DM. This stigma includes
blaming themselves, making negative societal assumptions, stereotyping with feelings
of being excluded, rejected and/or discriminated. They reported that the societal-media,
relatives, friends, health professionals including school- teachers are the sources for
stigma and this stigma creates negative effects in life domains such as impact on
societal relationships and identity, psychological health with behavioral management of
Australians with T1DM. The participants also suggested that T1DM-stigma increases
the feelings of reluctance in disclosing their T1DM especially in adults.
Reference
Browne, J.L et al. (2013). ‘I call it the blame and shame disease’: a qualitative study
about perceptions of social stigma surrounding type 2 diabetes: Br Med J Open.
3:e003384.
Browne, J.L., Ventura, A., Mosely, K et al. (2014). ‘I’m not a druggie, I’m just a diabetic’:
a qualitative study of stigma from the perspective of adults with type 1diabetes:
BMJ open. 4:e005625. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014- 005625
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Qualitative research
Grossoehme, D.H et al. (2013). "I honestly believe God keeps me healthy so I can take
care of my child: Parental use of faith related to treatment adherence: Journal of
Health Care Chaplaincy. 19(2):66–78. doi: 10.1080/08854726.2013.779540.
Panneerselvam, R. (2014). Research Methodology. Retrieved from
https://books.google.co.in/books?isbn=8120349466
Polit, D.F & Beck, C.T. (2016). Nursing Research: Generating and assessing evidence
for nursing practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: New Delhi.
Yin, R.K. (2015). Qualitative Research from Start to Finish. Retrieved from
https://books.google.co.in/books?isbn=1462521347
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