Autor(es):
Loureiro, Helena Maria Almeida Macedo 
; Silva, Margarida Alexandra N. C. G. M. Moreira da ; Cunha, Liliana Cristina Andrade da
Data: 2013
Origem: Repositório Científico da Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra
Assunto(s): Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2; transição; família; enfermagem;
Descrição
It was intended to understand how couples experience a recent announcement of Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DM2), in one of its elements. The guiding question was: How couples experiencing the transition to the diagnosis of DM2?
The study was based on a qualitative paradigm, guided by a phenomenological methodology by which, through interviews with six couples selected for convenience, we analyzed the transition process health/disease to which they were subject in the announcement of the diagnosis of DM2 and we tried to understand what changes are noted and which strategies have adopted after the mentioned event.
The findings indicate themes and sub-themes around which the experiences of marital systems are structured, which are expressed by "feelings perceived by the couple", revealing fear, acceptance, rejection, anger, sadness, loneliness, worry, distress; "difficulties felt by the couple", given the economic concerns and changing of lifestyles; "resources mobilized by the couple", which are of a domestic nature (family) and/or external (friends and health services), and also for "advices" that would give to other couples (how to keep calm, mutual aid, union and self-control, particularly with respect to diet and exercise). Moreover, if they could go back in time, they would change the eating habits adopted during life and some other behaviors, which were perceived as precipitating the diagnosis.
The findings reiterated that, as in other chronic diseases, the diagnosis of DM2 also causes a change that is not limited to its protagonist but also the spouse and, consequently, their conjugal systematic.
