Adapting life to the reality of diabetes

Background: Diabetes is one of the most challenging and burdensome chronic diseases of the 21st century. Adaptation to disease is a mental, multidimensional, interactive process and is influenced by social and cultural factors. It should be explained in the cultural context of each society with qualitative studies.

Aims: In this study, we explored the subjective experiences of adaptation to type 2 diabetes among Iranian patients.

Methods: This was a qualitative study using a grounded theory approach. Purposeful sampling was used initially, followed by theoretical sampling based on derived codes and categories as the sampling method. Twenty patients as main participants and 7 from the healthcare system and family members were selected based on a purposeful and theoretical sampling method. Data were collected through semistructured and deep interviews. Data were analysed using the approach of Strauss and Corbin simultaneous with data collection.

Results: Five categories that emerged from the data included: perceived threat of disease, reality compliance, comprehensive reconstruction, normalization of living with illness, and return to resources. Finally, data analysis on selective coding led to recognition of “endeavour to reconstruction of life” as the core variable. The core variable showed the way participants adapted to diabetes.

Conclusions: This study showed that the process of adaptation to diabetes has a dynamic nature in which participants make major changes in their cognitive, emotional and behavioural structures in order to have a normal life.

[Student participation is a key to any change: the students' role in medical education reform]

Background and Objective: The general census is that engagement in educational decision making is the students right. To have an effective reform, the students' and faculty members' involvement are necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the students' perspective of their role in medical education reforms

Methods: In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were performed on 50 students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2012. Participants were included in the study by purposeful sampling method and with maximum variation. The data collection stopped when data saturation was achieved. One open-ended question was asked from all of the participants; "what is the student's role in medical education reform?". The recoded interviews were transcribed line-by-line and analyzed using content analysis method

Results: Student involvement as a key to any change was the main theme which emerged in the study. Participation in educational decision making, reform-oriented thinking, self-directed and critical attitude, the ability to use applied scientific knowledge, creative thinking, and problem-solving ability were the themes which were obtained. Motivated instructors, dynamic environment, and learning opportunities were also mentioned as crucial elements for the students' participation in education reform

Conclusion: For any educational reform to be successful, it requires students' involvement. By listening to students, we can learn about the ways of improving the classroom or university. Abilities such as criticism, self-directing, and problem solving plus having committed professors and dynamic learning climate, together make reform possible