An Interpretive Description of the Experience of Receiving Telephone-Based Diabetes Health Coaching Among Community-Based Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Over the last decade, diabetes health coaching, also referred to as diabetes coaching, has emerged as a patient-centered intervention to assist individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in acquiring independence with self-management. The structure and delivery of such interventions have varied greatly while showing improvements in glycemic control. However, literature continues to show a gap around the patient experience of receiving diabetes coaching support. Objective: To explore the perceived experience of receiving telephone-based diabetes health coaching among community-based adults with T2DM within the Canadian context. Methods: A qualitative exploration with an interpretive descriptive design was carried out. Participants from the intervention group of a larger randomized controlled trial who had received a telephone-based diabetes coaching intervention over one year were invited to participate in a telephone interview with open-ended questioning. Findings: A total of 12 participants were interviewed and four major themes were identified. (1) Adapting to life with T2DM reflects how coaching helped individuals to integrate diabetes into their lives by addressing misconceptions, providing knowledge, encouraging awareness, and easing transition onto insulin. (2) Heightened mindfulness of diabetes-related wellness captured the greater attention participants’ gave to their overall well-being and self-management behaviours. (3) Behaviour change guided by the participant highlights the differences in participants’ motivation, readiness to make changes, external factors that influenced their ability to make self-management behaviour changes. (4) Lastly, valuing a supportive relationship illustrates that participants felt the unique coach-client relationship was reliable, holistic, non-judgmental, and encouraging. Conclusion: Overall, participants found diabetes coaching to be positive and highlighted the various ways it was able to support their ability to more effectively self-manage their diabetes.