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4. Funded Research Projects

4.13 Improving communication of self-management
behaviors among diabetes working adults: A qualitative

study (completed project)

Principal Investigator: Prof. Kara Chan
Convenor of Environment, Health and Sustainability
Working Group of LEWI and

Professor of Communication Studies
Source of Funding: Faculty Research Grant, HKBU

Amount Awarded: HKD132,000

Brief Introduction:

The purpose of this study is to identify if there are communication gaps between
diabetes educators and working adults with diabetes living in community. A

qualitative methodology of in-depth interview was adopted. Twelve working
patients with type 2 diabetes and six medical professionals from a hospital in

Wuhan, China were interviewed face-to-face in November 2015. Questions
about facilitators and barriers to self-management behaviours from the
perspectives of educators as well as patients were asked and were compared.

Questions about the context of working adults' own values, socio-economic needs
and resources, and desired quality of life were asked. Transcribed interviewing

notes were analysed using dedoose software. Social pressure regarding drinking
was a newly discovered work-related barrier to self-management. The results

show that the medical professionals were able to identify some work related
problems faced by patients. However, they failed to identify adverse physical

responses, craving for certain food items, and social drinking as major barriers
in patients’ self-management practices. They also failed to identity family goals
and family responsibilities as patients’ motivations of self-management. The

results will inform the design of effective communication strategies between
health educators and this specific group of audience.

HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies 38