Mutual Involvement in Families Living with Type 2 Diabetes: Using the Family Toolbox to Address Challenges Related to Knowledge, Communication, Support, Role Confusion, Everyday Practices and Mutual Worries

Dan Grabowski, Maria Beatriz Rodriguez Reino and Tue Helms Andersen
Additional contact information
Dan Grabowski: Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark
Maria Beatriz Rodriguez Reino: Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark
Tue Helms Andersen: Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark

Social Sciences, 2019, vol. 8, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Family involvement plays a key role in diabetes management. Challenges related to type 2 diabetes (T2D) often affect the whole family, and relatives are at increased risk of developing diabetes themselves. Creating family involvement in families living with T2D is a complex matter. This article studies potential effects of working with dialogue tools specifically developed to create family involvement. The data consist of 18 semi-structured family interviews. The data were analyzed using radical hermeneutics and theories on family identity and healthcare authenticity. The analysis revealed five themes: (1) Working with the tools created better and broader intra-familial involvement; (2) the tools enabled new roles and self-understandings for all family members; (3) the tools facilitated mutual insights into each other’s thoughts and worries; (4) after working with the tools, it was easier to discover potential challenges and possible behavior change; and (5) gaining new knowledge and the motivation to seek more knowledge was easier after working with the tools. Working with the tools changed how the families perceive themselves and the ways in which they can affect their own T2D-related health behavior together. This has direct implications for healthcare practitioners working with people with T2D.

Keywords: type 2 diabetes; family; identity; authenticity; dialogue tools (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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