facilitators and inhibitors of self-care behaviors in iranian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients; a qualitative research

Aims: diabetes is a common disease manageable by self-care behaviors. although studies have identified facilitators such as support, self-efficacy, and inhibitors such as insufficient information about diabetes and inadequate incentive for self-care behaviors, there has been no comprehensive qualitative study of iranian diabetic patients and their self-care behaviors. this study aimed to determine the facilitators and inhibiting factors in type 2 diabetic patients’ self-care behavior.participants & methods: using a qualitative content analysis approach, 19 iranian patients with type 2 diabetes between 30-60 years were purposefully selected. semi-structured interviews helped collect data until saturation was reached after 25 interviews. data were analyzed using the content analysis method.findings: researchers found two main themes indicating facilitators and inhibitors of self-care behavior and derived ten sub-themes. perceived facilitators to self-care behaviors were diabetes as a life-threatening disease, self-control, self-efficacy in self-care, and support for self-care. self-care inhibitors were personal inefficiencies, the others’ beliefs about diabetes treatment, lack of support, perceived threat to self-identity for being a diabetic, arbitrary control, and perceived helplessness.conclusion: self-care behaviors among iranian patients with type 2 diabetes are affected by multiple factors such as personal beliefs and attitudes, family and community support, and self-efficacy.