Enhancing care in the initiation and management of insulin in older people with diabetes: A collaborative journey with older individuals and their caregivers using Experience-Based Co-Design

INTRODUCTION

Initiating insulin therapy in older individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) poses unique challenges and requires a nuanced understanding of the age-related factors that impact safety and efficacy. This study employed Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) to enhance the insulin initiation and management experience for this population, emphasising a collaborative approach involving patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

AIM

The primary aim of the research was to develop a tailored care pathway, utilising co-design and the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), which addressed issues specific to older adults on insulin therapy. The study sought to identify key challenges, propose practical interventions, and construct a logic model illustrating a pathway for enhanced insulin treatment experiences.

METHODS

An adapted EBCD process was used which integrated the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework and BCW. The study involved thematic synthesis, video interviews, and feedback focus groups with patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The 'Crazy Eights' brainstorming method, as part of the co-design workshop, generated practical solutions which informed subsequent logic model development.

RESULTS

Focus group findings revealed distressing insulin initiation experiences, inconsistent dietary advice, and perceived disparities in care between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The co-design workshop identified eight key challenges, leading to proposed interventions aligned with the BCW. The logic model illustrates a pathway for older individuals undergoing insulin treatment, emphasising behaviour change among patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSION

The collaborative efforts of participants contributed valuable insights in terms of the unique educational and emotional needs of patients, the importance of care continuity and of improving access to specialist services. Findings from this study can be used to inform and enhance tailored support strategies for older adults with T2DM during their insulin transition and ongoing management.

Health self-care practices among community older adults with morbidity

OBJECTIVES

to describe sociodemographic and health characteristics of older adults with morbidity, identify self-care practices and verify the association of sociodemographic variables with those related to health and self-care practices.

METHODS

a quantitative, analytical and cross-sectional household survey, developed in the urban area in the countryside of Minas Gerais, from 2017 to 2018. A total of 796 older adults were assessed using validated instruments, such as Geriatric Depression Scale: short form, Brazilian Questionnaire for Functional and Multidimensional Assessment, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Instrument for Assessing Attitude Towards Taking Medications. Multiple logistic regression (p<0.05) was used.

RESULTS

negative self-perceived health was associated with low income and education. As for self-care in health, being physically active associated with the age group 60 |-| 79 years and higher education.

CONCLUSIONS

sociodemographic variables such as sex, age group, income, education, marital status, housing arrangement were related to health status and self-care practice.

Práticas de autocuidado em saúde entre pessoas idosas com morbidade da comunidade

RESUMO Objetivos: descrever as características sociodemográficas e de saúde dos idosos com morbidade, identificar as práticas de autocuidado e verificar a associação das variáveis sociodemográficas com as relacionadas à saúde e às práticas de autocuidado. Métodos: inquérito domiciliar quantitativo, analítico e transversal, desenvolvido na zona urbana no interior de Minas Gerais, de 2017 a 2018. Avaliados 796 idosos por instrumentos validados, como Escala de Depressão Geriátrica abreviada, Questionário Brasileiro de Avaliação Funcional e Multidimensional, Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física, Instrumento de Avaliação da Atitude Frente à Tomada de Remédios. Utilizou-se regressão logística múltipla (p<0,05). Resultados: a autopercepção de saúde negativa associou-se às baixas renda e escolaridade. Quanto ao autocuidado em saúde, ser ativo fisicamente associou-se à faixa etária 60 |-| 79 anos e à maior escolaridade. Conclusões: as variáveis sociodemográficas, como sexo, faixa etária, renda, escolaridade, estado conjugal, arranjo de moradia, relacionaram-se à condição de saúde e à prática de autocuidado.

Diabetes mellitus type 2: factors related to adherence to self-care

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical variables related to the adherence to self-care activities in people with diabetes mellitus type 2. Methods: quantitative, cross-sectional study, carried out with 270 people with diabetes from December 2019 to October 2020, in São Luís, Maranhão. Results: the adherence to self-care was greater when it comes to medications (Md=7.0) and foot care (Md= 6.0), but lower in regard to blood sugar testing (Md=1.0), exercise (Md=2,0), and diet (general) (Md=4.0). The variables age group (p=0.007), educational level (p=0.015), body mass index (p=0.035), complications with diabetes (p=0.009), and nutritional follow-up (p=0.000) had associations with self-care activities. Conclusions: identifying the factors related to the adherence to self-care was found to be essential to strengthen the line of care in chronic diseases and to direct educational actions, aiming to improve the quality of life of people with diabetes.