The Experiences of Diabetic Women of Health.

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Health is a key concept of nursing which has not been fully described in nursing literature. Thus this study devoted to exploring the meaning of health among Iranian women with diabetes. Methods: Hermeneutic phenomenology based on Van Manen approach was used for this research. Twenty –two women with diabetes who had been referred to the diabetes center of Imam Khomeini hospital in Ardabil, and all had a minimum of one year's experiences of type 2 diabetes and were able and volunteer to take part in this study, were recruited using purposive sampling method. Deep and semi structured interviews were used for data gathering. Each interview was recorded with participants' permission and transcribed verbatim after the meeting and analyzed with Van Manen the selective or highlighting approach simultaneously. Results: Data analysis led into emerging five main categories in health experiences of Iranian women with diabetes which are as follows: Spiritual and God –centered life, Health as precious possession, health as general well –being, independence, acceptance and changing of lifestyle. Conclusion: Health is an issue that is important for the patients and they try to come with the illness by using spiritual and religious incentives as well as changing lifestyle. These elements lead to a feeling of more health in these patients. Understanding the meaning of health from the viewpoint of women with diabetes helps nurses in keeping and promoting quality of life for those patients. Because health promotion of chronic patients is an important goal of nursing, knowing their viewpoint of health will facilitate attaining this objective. Moreover, findings of this study can be used by health care teams to revise their opinions about diabetic patients according to the culture of their patients.