Motivation and Barriers to Maintaining Lifestyle Changes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes after an Intensive Lifestyle Intervention (The U-TURN Trial): A Longitudinal Qualitative Study

Sabrina K. Schmidt, Liv Hemmestad, Christopher S. MacDonald, Henning Langberg and Laura S. Valentiner
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Sabrina K. Schmidt: Department of Sport, Physical Education and Outdoor Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø in Telemark, Norway
Liv Hemmestad: Department of Sport, Physical Education and Outdoor Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø in Telemark, Norway
Christopher S. MacDonald: The Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism and the Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Henning Langberg: Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Section of Social Medicine, CopenRehab, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, 1017 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Laura S. Valentiner: Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Section of Social Medicine, CopenRehab, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, 1017 Copenhagen K, Denmark

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-16

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore and identify factors that influence motivation for and barriers to adopting and maintaining lifestyle changes in patients with type 2 diabetes, following participation in an intensive multiple-lifestyle intervention. Participants were recruited from the U-TURN trial, a one-year, intensive lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes patients. This study was conducted over time; informants were interviewed twice after the trial ended with a six-month interval between interviews. The qualitative data from these individual interviews were analysed using systematic text condensation with an inductive approach. Five themes emerged: Social support and relatedness, Achievement of results, Support from healthcare professionals, Identification with and acceptance of the new lifestyle and Coping with ongoing challenges. These are all important for maintaining lifestyle changes and diabetes self-management. Changing one’s lifestyle can be a constant, difficult struggle. For sustainable progress after an intensive intervention, the changes must be adopted and endorsed by patients and co-opted into their social setting. Belonging to an exercise group, confidence in managing the lifestyle adjustments and handling of challenges through continual support and professional diabetes treatment are crucial in maintaining and adhering to the new lifestyle.

Keywords: type 2 diabetes; lifestyle intervention; motivation; qualitative research; adherence; health belief model; self-determination theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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