The Psychological and Social Aspects of Diabetes Mellitus
The research on the “Psychological and Social Aspects of Diabetes Mellitus in Cyprus” began in September 2005 and was completed in September 2007
Funding
- Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation
- Intercollege (Host Organisation)
End Users
- Ministry of Health
- Pancyprian Diabetic Association
- Social Welfare Services
Scientific Coordinator
DrConstantinos N Phellas, Associate Professor at School of Humanities,Social Sciences & Law, Intercollege, and Director of RUBSI
Coordinator
Dr Nicos Peristianis, Executive Director, Intercollege
Other Contributors
Intercollege:
- Dr Maria Karekla, Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Professor, School of Humanities, Social Sciences & Law, Intercollege
Cyprus Sociological Association:
- Costas Constantinou, Sociologist - Researcher
- Christina Loizou, Sociologist - Researcher
Pancyprian Medical Association:
- Dr Doros G. Loizou, M.D., Specialist in Internal Medicine and Diabetes
Center for Diabetes, Athens Polyclinic:
- Dr Maria Benroubi, Senior Director of NHS Greece, specialist in training of medical and nursing caring groups for Diabetes
Main aims of the research:
- Toinvestigate the inter-personal relationships between the persons livingwith Diabetes Mellitus with their immediate family environment
- To examine whether these people living with Diabetes Mellitus experience any psychological stress and social exclusion
- To explore whether there is any psycho-social support to both the patients and to their family
Thisstudy was the first of its kind to be conducted in Cyprus and it aimedto assist the end-users to develop effective and innovative educationaland prevention programs on the issue of Diabetes Mellitus. Theimplementation of such support programs would contribute towards theactive social participation of persons living with Diabetes Mellitus.The study also used data already collected and analysed from a previousepidemiological study on Diabetes Mellitus in Cyprus (Loizou et al,2003-05)
Methodology
The methodology of the research wasbased on semi-structured in-depth interviews on both people living withdiabetes (40 interviews) and members of their families (40 interviews)and focus groups. More specifically we conducted:
- 20interviews with children living with Diabetes Type 1 (10 children aged6-11 and 10 aged 12-18) and with one of their parents (20 interviews)and
- 20 interviews with adults living with Diabetes Type 2 (bothwith persons on tablets, as well as on insulin) and their spouses (20interviews)
- Two focus groups covered two of the target groups which have been interviewed
Personal interviews were based on the following themes:
- First reaction after diagnosis
- Present attitude regarding diabetes
- Degree of acceptance of the disease
- Difficulties faced in everyday life
- Attitude and medicines and insulin injection
- Difficulties faced regarding treatment
- Level of satisfaction regarding treatment
- Level of satisfaction from the medical group that treats them
- Level of discipline to doctor’s instructions
- Attitudes towards diet
- Degree to which the person has changed his/her character and habits due to diabetes
- In the case of the adults, the degree to which it has affected the marital relationship (positively or negatively)
- Inthe case of children the degree in which parents feel overprotectivefor their children and whether there is a different attitude to thechild with diabetes compared to their other children
- Investigationof the parameters affecting people, resulting to feeling of socialexclusion. Such factors might be the everyday need of insulininjection, the compulsory frequent dependence on doctors, nursingstaff, medicines, as well as the lack of necessary access toinformation on the disease
Analysis of Data
The data collected has been analysed through the use of (i) Content Analysis and (ii) MultiDimensional Scaling Analysis.
The results of the study were presented on the 6th of November 2007 (see News)
21st May. 2010