Understanding physicians' challenges when treating type 2 diabetic patients' social and emotional difficulties: A qualitative study

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. © 2011 by the American Diabetes Association.