A qualitative exploration of motivation to self-manage and styles of self-management amongst people living with type 2 diabetes

The study examined the motives that people living with type 2 diabetes (t2d) had for self-managing their condition and ways they used to assess the success of their self-management efforts. using semistructured interviews (n=25),focus groups (3 × n=12 participants),and open-ended questionnaires (n=6),people living with and self-managing t2d were recruited from a community-based t2d participation group. most participants were older (aged 60+) and lived in a socioeconomically deprived area in the united kingdom. data were analysed thematically using framework analysis. patients' motives for self-management included (i) concern about the anticipative effects of t2d; (ii) wishing to stay well; (iii) maintaining independence; (iv) reducing the need for healthcare professionals; and (v) improving quality of life. six self-management styles were found and pertained to self-managing: (i) through routinisation; (ii) as a burden; (iii) as maintenance; (iv) through delegation; (v) through comanagement; and (vi) through autonomy. motivators for self-management shaped the criteria people used to judge the success of their self-management practices and influenced their self-management style. the findings show that styles of t2d self-management are mediated and moderated by sociocontextual issues. healthcare professionals should take these into account when supporting people living with t2d. © 2015 paul newton et al.