Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and living with a chronic condition: participatory study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most serious chronic illnesses in the world due to its prevalence, economic and social effects, and negative impact on the quality of life of the affected people. The diagnosis implies changes in life habits especially related to feeding, physical activity, and constant self-care, requiring greater personal autonomy. METHODS: This study aims to understand how individuals living with diabetes deal with the recognition of the chronic condition in their health care practices. This is a participatory research with a qualitative approach focusing on reflexivity. Sixteen people with diabetes mellitus were intentionally chosen, and qualified to participate in the study. The selected methodology allowed the constitution of life stories and focused on the multiple ways human beings deal with their illnesses. RESULTS: The participants attended eight closed group meetings, with an specific methodology which benefited them to retrieve their own history as well as the multiple experiences to deal with the disease, here called Strategic Health Promotion Group (SHPG). The data produced and the dialogue between researcher and researched subjects were related to three major thematic perspectives: I) recognizing diabetes II) living with diabetes III) exercising personal autonomy. This work contains the meanings attributed to the Perspective I from which the following three categories emerged: The impact of the diagnosis, the denial of the illness, and the acceptance of the illness. It was observed that the diagnosis of a chronic illness generates a multiplicity of feelings, moving through narratives of complications and death events shared between generations. The participants expressed feelings related to denial or acceptance of the chronic condition which required an active adaptation exercising. From the current diagnosis, it was observed that new signs were added to the person's existence, influencing their habits, health care practices and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The emotional aspects of subjects diagnosed with diabetes mellitus strongly influence the acceptance or denial of the illness, interfering in their personal adherence to treatment. As a chronic condition, involving life-longing care practices, which intervenes in therapeutic participation, it is indispensable to respect and to encourage the personal autonomy of the subjects.

Perfil dos estudantes de uma instituição de ensino superior quanto ao uso de álcool e outras drogas / Profile of students an a higher education institution of as the use of alcohol and other drugs

Introdução: As bebidas alcóolicas são produtos de fácil acesso a população, acarretando um consumo excessivo em diversos países, incluindo o Brasil, o que ocasiona juntamente com o uso de drogas ilícitas vários agravos à saúde, tornando-se um problema de saúde pública. Objetivo: Traçar o perfil dos estudantes universitários de uma instituição de ensino superior no município de Santa Cruz/RN no tocante ao uso de álcool e outras drogas. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório e descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa. Participaram da pesquisa 84 estudantes que estavam regularmente matriculados nos cursos de Enfermagem, Fisioterapia e Nutrição na UFRN/FACISA. Foi aplicado no período de maio a julho de 2014 um questionário com 41 questões objetivas, e para análise dos dados foi utilizado o pacote estatístico SPSS versão 17.0. Resultados: As drogas mais consumidas entre os estudantes universitários com idade mínima entre 18 e 33 anos de idade são o álcool, cigarro, maconha, substâncias inalatórias, cocaína, LSD, chá de cogumelo e êxtase. Os fatores motivadores para o uso das drogas foram convívio com pessoas que fazem uso, curiosidade e influência dos amigos. Conclusão: Os estudantes iniciam precocemente o uso de drogas, sobretudo, as lícitas e conviver com pessoas que fazem uso tem motivado o consumo (AU).

Introduction: The alcoholic beverages are easily accessible to the population, this resulting in excessive consumption in several countries, including Brazil, which causes along with the use of illicit drugs several health problems, becoming a public health problem. Objective: To describe the profile of university students in a higher education institution in the city of Santa Cruz / RN regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs. Methodology: This is an exploratory and descriptive study with a quantitative approach. The participants were 84 students who were enrolled in Nursing, Physiotherapy and Nutrition in UFRN / FACISA. Was applied in the period from May to July 2014 a questionnaire with 41 objective questions, and to analyze the data we used the statistical package SPSS version 17.0. Results: The drugs most consumed in between college students with a minimum age of 18 years and a maximum of 33 are alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, inhaled substances, cocaine, LSD and ecstasy or mushroom and tea. The motivating factors for drug use were living with people who use, curiosity and peer pressure. Conclusion: Students start early drug use, especially the legal and mingle with people who use has motivated consumption (AU).