Aim: This study aimed to gain in-depth understanding of the actual hospital and home experience of patients with diabetes and a critical cardiac event to assist in developing a pertinent diabetes self-management programme.
Background: Type 2 diabetes can lead to cardiac complications requiring critical nursing care. Patients with diabetes and a history of cardiac disease are at greater risk of a further cardiac event. Greater self-efficacy or confidence in regulating diabetes and reducing the risk of a further cardiac event can be achieved through self-management programmes. However, the start of such a programme within the critical care environment presents challenges to critical care staff. It is important to understand patients' experiences and needs to improve quality of care.
Design: An interpretive approach comprising open-ended interviews was used to collect data from patients with type 2 diabetes experiencing a cardiac event who had a coronary care unit admission in 2002-2003.
Findings: The findings revealed that patients with diabetes who had a critical cardiac event experienced considerable feelings of hopelessness and fatigue. Patients also had concerns in the areas of self-confidence and confidence in health professionals. Patients indicated that greater self-confidence and confidence in health professionals would help their ability to manage their daily lives.
Conclusion: This paper provides in-depth understanding of the perspectives of patients with type 2 diabetes who have also been hospitalized for a critical cardiac event. This study concluded that further research is needed to fully explore whether enhancing self-confidence for these patients will lead to improved diabetes management, reduced negative feelings and more positive health outcomes.
Relevance to clinical practice: The themes identified in this study provide direction and strategies for nursing staff to improve patients' confidence levels and reduce their feelings of hopelessness and fatigue.