Challenges Faced by People with Diabetes in Accessing Information and Medical Care

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
What are the main challenges do people with diabetes face when accessing information and
medical care?
Name of the Student
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Author Note

1RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Background
There is a growing body of research that defines diabetes as a disease that is marked
by a higher than normal increase in the blood sugar levels. Diabetes can be effectively
managed with administration of proper medications, thereby preventing the long-term
complications that are associated with the metabolic syndrome (Takehara et al. 2019).
Without treatment, diabetes manifests in the form of a progressive illness that increasingly
‘wears out’ the critical functions of the body, encompassing vision, nerves, muscles and the
vital body organs, such as, the pancreas and the liver. If untreated, diabetes is also responsible
for blindness, limb amputation, renal disease fatty liver disease, several cardiovascular
complications, as well as preventable death (Bus et al. 2016). A growing body of research
elaborate on the fact that consumption of carbohydrates, sugar-rich beverages, sedentary
lifestyle, and smoking are major risk factors that lead to the development of this metabolic
syndrome. Furthermore, spikes in the level of blood sugar also overwhelm the body, which in
turn is unable to effectively utilise it.
The estimated global prevalence of diabetes amid adults aged between 20-79 years
was 382 million in the year 2012, and is expected to create an impact on an approximately
592 million individuals by 2035 (Diabetes U.K 2014). According to the International
Diabetes Federation (IDF) five countries namely, India, Brazil, China, the United States of
America, and the Russian Federation reported presence of more than 10 million individuals
who were diagnosed with diabetes in 2013 (Atlas 2015). Reports from the UK suggests that
one in 17 persons suffer from diabetes, which is either diagnosed or undiagnosed. An
estimated 3.2 million individuals reported diabetes in the UK in 2013, thus signifying the
high prevalence of the condition (WHO 2016). Recent data from PHE also revealed that 3.8
million residents of England, who were aged over 16 years, suffered from diabetes in 2015,

2RESEARCH PROPOSAL
which in turn roughly accounted for 9% of the entire adult population (Public Health England
2016).
There is limited evidence on the barriers that are faced by diabetes patients, in relation
to accessing appropriate care services for management of their condition. Limited resources
and time often make the clinicians struggle to meet the progressing diabetes management
targets, thus making them compromise with the care delivered (American Diabetes
Association 2014). People affected with diabetes also lack adequate confidence, in relation to
knowledge of the treatment skills and guidelines. Anxieties over management intensification,
lack of proper health coverage, and opposing patterns of practice between specialist and
generalist physicians also act as significant barriers in diabetes care.
Theories/Framework
Penchansky and Thomas's Theory of Access defines healthcare access as the degree
of fitness between a healthcare service and its users. It proposes that greater the fit, better will
be the access to the health amenities. Hence, the theory helps in optimising access by taking
into account a plethora of dimensions of access such as, affordability, availability,
accessibility, acceptability, and adequacy in the design, evaluation and implementation of the
healthcare services (Saurman 2016). Although the aforementioned dimensions are
interconnected with each other and absence of any one, results in a barrier in proper disease
management, the concept of awareness about health and illness should also be taken into
consideration. In other words, the theory promotes the presence of adequate health resources
such as, technology, equipment, and personnel, centralised services, coordination and
integration of these services, and adequate funding opportunities for effective treatment and
management of a health disorder (Carpentier 2015). In addition, the theory also emphasises
the fact that acceptability of illness is directly associated with the characteristics and attitudes
of patients and their healthcare providers. Hence, the attitude they manifest towards each

3RESEARCH PROPOSAL
other, the demographic characteristics of patient such as, sex, age, comorbidity, and life
expectancy, preferences and demands of patients, and provider characteristics namely, their
years of practice, specialisation levels, and sex are other governing factors.
Topic
The major challenges that are encountered by people diagnosed with diabetes, in
relation to accessing appropriate medical care services and health related information.
Research question
What main challenges do people with diabetes face when accessing information and
medical care?
Research aim
To determine the challenges that people suffering from diabetes encounter, while
accessing medical care and health information.
Research objectives
 To determine the barriers faced by patients
 To explore the awareness of diabetes management and care among patients
Rationale
There is mounting evidence for the fact that in several healthcare settings, there are
inadequate effective policies for creating a supportive environment, for adoption of healthy
lifestyle. Additionally, lack of proper access to quality healthcare services suggests that
treatment and prevention of diabetes, chiefly for individuals of diffident means, are not being
chased (Peck et al. 2014). Furthermore, uncontrolled diabetes has dire consequences for
wellbeing and health outcomes of the patients. The complications associated with this
metabolic syndrome creates harsh impacts on the capitals of persons and their families, and