The meaning of a consultation with the diabetes nurse specialist.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to elucidate the essential meaning of a consultation between diabetes nurse specialists and patients to gain a deeper understanding of the patients' experiences.


METHODS
Twenty patients with type 2 diabetes were interviewed about their experience of a consultation at an annual check-up with the diabetes nurse specialist. A phenomenological hermeneutic method was used in the analysis and interpretation of the text.


RESULTS
The patient's experience of a consultation was interpreted as manifestation of hold on the disease control. This means a safeguard to continue daily life shown in the four themes being controlled, feeling exposed, feeling comfortable, and feeling prepared.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients' experiences of a consultation with the diabetes nurse specialist became the basis for a health maintenance process in dealing with critical health-disease aspects. IMPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: In a consultation, professionals have to take into account the potential emotional turbulence that disease progression can mean to a patient. Diabetes care implies patient dependence on support to avoid a potential self-management insufficiency and call attention to professionals' time for listening to patients' perceptions.
Edwall
Lise-Lotte
LL
The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Göteborg, Sweden. lise-lotte.edwall@e-post.tidanet.se
Danielson
Ella
E
Ohrn
Ingbritt
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013041:Specialties, Nursing