University of Worcester Worcester Research and Publications
 
  USER PANEL:
  ABOUT THE COLLECTION:
  CONTACT DETAILS:

'Urine Testing is a Waste of Time': Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Patients' Perceptions of Self-monitoring

Lawton, J., Peel, Elizabeth, Douglas, M. and Parry, O. (2004) 'Urine Testing is a Waste of Time': Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Patients' Perceptions of Self-monitoring. Diabetic Medicine, 21 (9). pp. 1045-1048. ISSN 0742-3071 Online: 1464-5491

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Aims To date, there is no convincing evidence that non-insulin treated patients who undertake self-blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) have better glycaemic control than those who test their urine. This has led to a recommendation that non-insulin dependent patients undertake urine testing, which is the cheaper option. This recommendation does not take account of patients' experiences and views. This study explores the respective merits of urine testing and SBGM from the perspectives of newly diagnosed patients with Type 2 diabetes. Methods Qualitative study using repeat in-depth interviews with 40 patients. Patients were interviewed three times at 6-monthly intervals over 1 year. Patients were recruited from hospital clinics and general practices in Lothian, Scotland. The study was informed by grounded theory, which involves concurrent data collection and analysis. Results Patients reported strongly negative views of urine testing, particularly when they compared it with SBGM. Patients perceived urine testing as less convenient, less hygienic and less accurate than SBGM. Most patients assumed that blood glucose meters were given to those with a more advanced or serious form of diabetes. This could have implications for how they thought about their own disease. Patients often interpreted negative urine results as indicating that they could not have diabetes. Conclusions Professionals should be aware of the meanings and understandings patients attach to the receipt and use of different types of self-monitoring equipment. Guidelines that promote the use of consistent criteria for equipment allocation are required. The manner in which negative urine results are conveyed needs to be reconsidered.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information:

Staff and students at the University of Worcester can access the full-text via the Summon service. External users should check availability with their local library or Interlibrary Requests Service.

Uncontrolled Discrete Keywords: blood glucose meter, self-monitoring, Type 2 diabetes, urine testing
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: College of Business, Psychology and Sport > School of Psychology
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Elizabeth Peel
Date Deposited: 24 Oct 2013 16:15
Last Modified: 17 Jun 2020 17:00
URI: https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/id/eprint/2592

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
 
     
Worcester Research and Publications is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.