Interpretations of Risk and Expectations of Change among Individuals with Types 1 and 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Questionnaires to assess expectations of future health were administered to 382 patients with diabetes immediately before and after attending an annual check-up. When considering their future health status and interpreting feedback from clinicians, diabetic control appeared to be a more important criterion for Type 1 than Type 2 patients. Both patients and clinicians briefly recorded the topics they felt had been discussed during the consultation. Comparing the two sets of records revealed significant concordance, within the Type 1 but not the Type 2 sample, between patients and clinicians with respect to whether patients had been given good news. Our findings emphasize the importance of distinguishing Types 1 and 2 diabetes in accounts of patients’ expectations and motivation for self-management.

Keywords

attitudes diabetes optimism risk perception

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