title: Exploring risk, prevention and educational approaches for the non-diabetic offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes--a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the knowledge and perceptions of type 2 diabetes and to explore preferable educational strategies in the non-diabetic offspring of patients with the disease.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Type 2 diabetes is an increasingly prevalent disease with significant long-term consequences. Offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of developing the disease compared with the general population. Previous studies have shown that offspring have a poor perception of their own risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was carried out using semi-structured one-to-one interviews. Analysis was completed using a structured framework approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research was carried out during January-March 2011 in the north east of UK. Six offspring of patients diagnosed with the disease were interviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants balanced positive and negative aspects of their lifestyle behaviours to estimate their own risk. They had adequate knowledge of healthy lifestyle behaviours, but were uncertain about the long-term effects and seriousness of the disease and the role of inheritance. Behavioural changes at an individual level would only be motivated by an event, which would impact on their own health. Participants believed that 'fear'-based strategies to health promotion would be most effective to encourage behaviour change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of individual risk and why diabetes was serious was limited and variable. The health behaviours of this at-risk group were complex. Nurses engaged in the care of at-risk individuals must take this complexity into account when developing and implementing multi-faceted strategies to improve awareness.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Facility, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carrick-Sen
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: behavioural change; health behaviour; inheritance; knowledge; lifestyle; nursing practice; offspring at risk; type 2 diabetes