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ABSTRACT: Objective
To explore physicians' awareness of and responses to type 2 diabetic patients' social and emotional difficulties.Research design and methods
We conducted semistructured interviews with 19 physicians. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis.Results
Three themes emerged: 1) physicians' awareness of patients' social and emotional difficulties: physicians recognized the frequency and seriousness of patients' social and emotional difficulties; 2) physicians' responses to patients' social and emotional difficulties: many reported that intervening with these difficulties was challenging with few treatment options beyond making referrals, individualizing care, and recommending more frequent follow-up visits; and 3) the impact of patients' social and emotional difficulties on physicians: few available patient treatment options, time constraints, and a perceived lack of psychological expertise contributed to physicians' feeling frustrated, inadequate, and overwhelmed.Conclusions
Recognition and understanding of physicians' challenges when treating diabetes patients' social and emotional difficulties are important for developing programmatic interventions.
SUBMITTER: Beverly EA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3114520 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Beverly Elizabeth A EA Hultgren Brittney A BA Brooks Kelly M KM Ritholz Marilyn D MD Abrahamson Martin J MJ Weinger Katie K
Diabetes care 20110316 5
<h4>Objective</h4>To explore physicians' awareness of and responses to type 2 diabetic patients' social and emotional difficulties.<h4>Research design and methods</h4>We conducted semistructured interviews with 19 physicians. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Three themes emerged: 1) physicians' awareness of patients' social and emotional difficulties: physicians recognized the frequency and seriousness of patients' social and emotional diff ...[more]