Conectar
To generate an in-depth understanding of the perceptions and experiences of individuals with youth-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) to inform knowledge translation initiatives and clinical care.
Interpretive descriptive qualitative study.
Individuals were eligible to participate if they received a T2D diagnosis on or before 18 years of age, resided in Manitoba, and were between 10 and 25 years of age at the time of data collection. Twenty-two individuals (13 females, 7 males, 2 prefer not to indicate gender; mean age = 19.3 years) participated in 22 semi-structured interviews (mean length: 29:01 min) remotely using Zoom video conferencing software or by telephone. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Four themes were generated: (1) Low public knowledge, misconceptions, and stigma impact youth experiences including those of diagnosis, disclosure, treatment, and supports; (2) shared familial experiences impacts perception of the future; (3) mental and emotional wellness is critically important but requires more attention; and (4) T2D carries unanticipated positive and negative impacts for youth.
Findings illustrate the complex interrelationships between public and personal conceptions of T2D, stigma, and T2D navigation, emphasising the centrality of emotional and mental well-being to participants' T2D experiences and management. This representation of experiences and perceptions of youth onset T2D offers direction for holistic and youth-centred research and care and highlights areas where further mental health and educational resources would be beneficial.
The knowledge translation resource being developed from this study involves input from patient and public partners.
The survival rate among patients with breast cancer is high. It is well described that after primary treatment patients may experience symptoms and concerns but the needs and resources during the first year to manage everyday life are not well described.
To describe experiences of symptom distress, needs and support during the first year after primary treatment for breast cancer from the perspectives of patients and healthcare professionals.
Qualitative descriptive.
Data collection through individual interviews with patients (n = 17) and a focus group interview with healthcare professionals (n = 7). Data was analysed using thematic analysis and resulted in three themes.
The first theme, ‘Struggling with symptoms and changes in everyday life’ shows how symptoms and concerns interfered with the everyday life of patients and in some situations even impeded them. Patients try to adapt to their new situation by creating new routines and managing symptoms through self-care. The second theme, ‘Adaption in a period of uncertainty’ describes thoughts about cancer recurrence and doubts about continuing with the endocrine therapy if symptoms prolong. In the third theme, ‘Support and need for individualized follow-up care’ healthcare professionals described that they provide support by being available and by giving both verbal and written information. Patients expressed that the information could be too general and voiced a need for more individually tailored support.
During the first year after primary treatment, patients with breast cancer describe how they try to manage by themselves, but express both unmet needs and a wish for extended and more individually tailored support. The healthcare professionals recognised that patients lack a structured plan for the first year and the need for continued support. This stresses a need for development of care models with special consideration towards individualised support after breast cancer treatment.
There was no patient or public involvement in the design or conduct of the study. The interview study was not considered to benefit from involving patients or healthcare professionals when designing the interview guides as they were developed through literature and previous research of patients treated for breast cancer.
FreshRSS 