Skip to main content
Atencion Primaria logoLink to Atencion Primaria
. 2008 Nov 18;38(1):8–15. [Article in Spanish] doi: 10.1157/13090014

La relación médico-paciente en el tratamiento de la diabetes tipo 1. Un estudio cualitativo

Physician/patient relationship in diabetes mellitus type 1 treatment. A qualitative study

María J Escudero-Carretero a,⁎, M Ángeles Prieto-Rodríguez a, Isabel Fernández-Fernández b, Joan Carles March-Cerdà a
PMCID: PMC7676039  PMID: 16790212

Abstract

Objectives

To know the experiences and expectations of diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) patients and their relatives as regards the relationships established with doctors, and the impact of such relationships on their strategies to cope with the disease and treatment.

Design

Qualitative design based on focus groups conducted in 2001.

Location

Several health care centres in Granada and Seville, Spain.

Participants

DM1 patients and their relatives and/or carers.

Method

Theory-based sampling including the most representative profiles. Qualitative analysis procedure: text coding, triangulation and interpretation of results.

Results

Doctor/patient relationship highly influences the emotional experience of disease and the way patients gain control over it. Interviewed patients said that the relationship with doctors is focused on disease signs and symptoms, leaving emotional aspects aside. Very often, provider communication is built on recrimination and threat. Treatment is imposed rather than agreed, with scarce opportunities for participating in clinical decisions. Patients develop strategies to take their own decisions and adapting treatment to their daily life.

Conclusions

Patients value a relationship model whereby providers listen and empathise with their situation, understand their difficulties in treatment compliance, encourage them, and adapt recommendations to the personal and emotional circumstances of each patient. They prefer doctors combining professional competence-including relational skills-with humanity and kindness, as well as being capable of assuming their co-responsibility in treatment success.

Key words: Doctor/patient relationship, Diabetes mellitus type 1, Treatment compliance, Qualitative study, Patient needs and expectations, Communication

Bibliografía

  • 1.Heredia Galán M.V. ¿Qué influye en la adherencia al tratamiento de la diabetes? Rol de Enfermería. 2004;27:57–60. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Consejería de Salud Junta de Andalucía . Consejería de Salud; Sevilla: 2002. Diabetes Mellitus tipo 1. Proceso asistencial integrado. [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Consejería de Salud Junta de Andalucía . Consejería de Salud; Sevilla: 2003. Plan Integral de Diabetes de Andalucía 2003-2007. [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Koenigsberg M.R., Bartlett D., Cramer J.S. Faciliting treatment adherence with lifestyle changes in Diabetes. American Family Physician. 2004;69:309–316. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Peralta G., Figuerola D. Aspectos psicosociales de la diabetes. Endocrinol Nutr. 2003;50:280–285. [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Zúñiga González S., Islas Andrade S. Educación del paciente diabético. Un problema ancestral. Revista Médica del IMSS. 2000;38:187–191. [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Carratalá Munuera C., Orozco Beltrán D., Gil Guillén V., Merino Sánchez J. Factores en el cumplimiento terapéutico y diabetes. In: Gil Guillén V., Merino Sánchez J., Palop Larrea V., editors. El cumplimiento factor clave en el control de las enfermedades. SVMFIC Societat Valenciana de Medicina Familiar i Comunitaria; Valencia: 2003. pp. 133–142. [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Lucio Gómez-Maqueo E., Alcántara-Rodríguez Y., Tapia-Hernández B., Durán-Patiño C., Calzada-León R. Personalidad y autoestima del adolescente que padece diabetes mellitus insulino-dependiente. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex. 2003;60:173–183. [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Fernández Fernández I. Atención sanitaria centrada en el paciente con diabetes: necesitamos incorporar las perspectivas/expectativas de los pacientes. Aten Primaria. 2002;32:195–202. doi: 10.1016/S0212-6567(03)79252-X. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Dijkstra R., Braspenning J., Grol R. Empowering patients: how to implement a diabetes passport in hospital care. Patient Education and Counseling. 2002;47:173–177. doi: 10.1016/s0738-3991(01)00196-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Isla P., López C., Valls R. Diabetes mellitus. Expectativas de futuro en la educación sanitaria. Rol de Enfermería. 1997;224:51–53. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Szabó-Kallai K., Gyimesi A., Iványi J. Role of emotional factors in diabetes. Acta Diabetol. 1990;27:23–29. doi: 10.1007/BF02624719. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Hiscock J, Legard R, Snape D. Listening to diabetes service users: qualitative findings for the Diabetes National Service Framework, UK; 2001.
  • 14.Kitzinger J. Qualitative research: introducing focus groups. BMJ. 1995;311:299–302. doi: 10.1136/bmj.311.7000.299. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Mercado F.J., Alcántara Hernández E., Lara Flores N., Sánchez A., Tejada Tayabas L.M. La atención médica a la enfermedad crónica: reflexiones sobre los procedimientos metodológicos de un estudio cualitativo. Rev Esp Salud Pública. 2002;76:461–471. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Prieto Rodríguez M.A., March Cerdá J.C. Paso a paso en el diseño de un estudio mediante grupos focales. Aten Primaria. 2002;29:343–347. doi: 10.1016/S0212-6567(02)70585-4. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Pope C., Mays N. Qualitative research: reaching the parts other methods cannot reach: an introduction to qualitative methods in health and health services research. BMJ. 1995;311:42–45. doi: 10.1136/bmj.311.6996.42. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Hurley R.E. La investigación cualitativa y el profundo entendimiento de lo obvio. HSR: Health Services Research. 1999;34:1119–1136. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Nuño Gutiérrez B.L., Canales Muñoz J.L., Madrigal de Leon E.A., Villaseñor Farias M., San Martín A.H. Motivos y expectativas de los adolescentes sobre la utilización de servicios de salud. Revista Médica del IMSS. 1998;36:13–21. [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Muntaner C., Gómez M.B. Qualitative and quantitative research in social epidemiology: is complementarity the only issue? Gac Sanit. 2003;17:53–57. doi: 10.1157/13057792. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.March J.C., Prieto M.A., Hernán M., Solas O. Técnicas cualitativas en salud pública y gestión de servicios de salud: algo más que otro tipo de técnicas. Gac Sanit. 1999;13:312–319. doi: 10.1016/s0213-9111(99)71373-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Popay J. Qualitative research and the epidemiological imagination: a vital relationship. Gac Sanit. 2003;17:58–63. doi: 10.1157/13057793. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Rose M., Fliege H., Hildebrandt M., Schirop T., Klapp B. The network of psychological variables in patients with diabetes and their importance for quality of life and metabolic control. Diabetes Care. 2002;25:35–42. doi: 10.2337/diacare.25.1.35. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Mira J.J., Vitaller J., Aranaz J., Herrero J.F., Buil J.A. La satisfacción del paciente: concepto y aspectos metodológicos. Revista de Psicología de la Salud. 1992;4:89–116. [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Clark C.H., Snyder J., Meek R., Stutz L., Parkin C.H. A systematic approach to risk stratification and intervention within a managed care enviroment improves diabetes outcomes and patient satisfaction. Diabetes Care. 2001;24:1079–1086. doi: 10.2337/diacare.24.6.1079. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Epstein R., Alper B., Quill T. Communicating Evidence for participatory decision making. JAMA. 2004;291:2359–2366. doi: 10.1001/jama.291.19.2359. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Ordoñana Martín J.R., Gómez Amor J., Galván Olivares F. El uso del miedo en los mensajes de salud. Gaceta Sanitaria. 2000;14(Supl 3):45–59. [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Hart H.E., Bilo H.J.G., Redekop W.K., Stolk R.P., Assink J.H., Meyboom de Jong B. Quality of life of patients with type I diabetes mellitus. Qual Lyfe Res. 2003;12:1089–1097. doi: 10.1023/a:1026197119569. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Izquierdo R., Knudson P., Meyer S., Kearns J., Plutz-Snyder R., Weinstock R.A. comparison of diabetes education administered through telemedicine versus in person. Diabetes Care. 2003;26:1002–1007. doi: 10.2337/diacare.26.4.1002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Gross R., Tabenkin H., Porath A., Heymann A., Greenstein M., Porter B., Matzliach R. The relationship between primary care physicians’ adherence to guidelines for the treatment of diabetes and patient satisfaction: findings from a pilot study. Family Practice. 2003;20:563–569. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmg512. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Wellbery C. Active role in diabetes care improves patient satisfaction. American Family Physician. 2003;67:877. [Google Scholar]

Articles from Atencion Primaria are provided here courtesy of Elsevier

RESOURCES