How patients' representations of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes inform their health behaviours.
Although diabetes is a frequent complication of cystic fibrosis (CF), patients' behaviours tend not to comply with best practice recommendations. Using Leventhal's Common-Sense Model, we address this issue by exploring patients' representations of CF-related diabetes (CFRD) to better understand the discrepancy between patients' expected and observed health behaviours.



Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with patients (n = 39) in six CF clinics in Quebec, Canada. These interviews were part of a larger research project on screening and management practices for CFRD.



Illness representations differed between two groups of interviewed patients: (1) one group had either CF without dysglycemia or CF with impaired glucose tolerance; and (2) the other group had CFRD. Both representations were internally consistent and encompassed Leventhal's five dimensions of illness representation: illness identity, cause, timeline, consequences and control.



Patients require specific information on CFRD. The screening phase could be a crucial time to help patients adjust their representations to fit the reality of CFRD.
a School of Rehabilitation , Université de Sherbrooke, Centre for Action in Work Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (CAPRIT) , Longueuil , Canada.
Chantal
C
Sylvain
b School of Public Health , Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM) , Montréal , Canada.
Lise
L
Lamothe
c Department of medicine , Université de Montréal, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) , Montréal , Canada.
Yves
Y
Berthiaume
d Department of Nutrition , Université de Montréal, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) , Montréal , Canada.
Rémi
R
Rabasa-Lhoret
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec; D055815:Young Adult
adherence; common sense model; cystic fibrosis; cystic fibrosis-related diabetes; illness representations