Measuring perceptions of diabetes-related concepts: a preliminary study.
This pilot study explored health professionals' and patients' perceptions of diabetes through the development of the Diabetes Semantic Differential Scales (DSDS). These scales evaluate the meaning of diabetes-related concepts.



Health professionals (n = 39) attending a CME course completed the health professional version of the DSDS. Patients (n = 70) completed the patient version of the DSDS.



The reliability of the DSDS was supported. The scale scores of health professionals, African American patients, and Caucasian patients, examined initially by one-way analyses of variance, showed significant differences among the groups for 4 of the 18 diabetes concepts. Effect sizes were also examined among these groups. For 7 concepts, there was a significant practical difference between the perceptions of the health professionals and the African American patients. For the Caucasian patients, differences were noted for 6 concepts.



There are 3 primary inferences from this pilot study. First, health professionals and patients are likely to hold different perceptions of key diabetes concepts. Second, the concepts on which professionals and patients differ are not always what one would expect. Third, health professionals should clarify patients' understanding of diabetes to minimize the potential for miscommunication.
Fitzgerald
James T
JT
The Department of Medical Edu­cation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor  (Drs Fitzgerald, Gruppen, and Anderson)|The Geriatric Research, Education, & Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Michigan (Dr Fitzgerald)
Gruppen
Larry D
LD
The Department of Medical Edu­cation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor  (Drs Fitzgerald, Gruppen, and Anderson)
Wray
Linda A
LA
The Department of Behavioral  Health, Pennsylvania  State University, University Park  (Dr Wray)
Shay
Barbara R
BR
The Geriatrics Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor (Ms Shay)
Anderson
Robert M
RM
The Department of Medical Edu­cation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor  (Drs Fitzgerald, Gruppen, and Anderson)
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology