Type 2 diabetes self-management schemas across diverse health literacy levels: a qualitative investigation

Objective The aim of this study was to explore how people with diabetes and diverse health literacy levels conceptualise their experience and efforts to engage in self-management behaviours (their self-management 'schemas'). Design A qualitative design was applied. Methods Twenty-six people in Sydney, Australia, took part in semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded and coded using Framework analysis. Results Half the participants (54%) had limited health literacy, whereas 38% adequate health literacy (using Newest Vital Sign). Regardless of health literacy, people described how monitoring increased self-management awareness and signalled periods of low self-management ('lulls'). Accounts of monitoring to sustain motivation were more apparent for participants with adequate health literacy. Most participants described simple and flexible rules (e.g. use artificial sweeteners; eat in moderation). Two schemas related to 'lulls': a 'problem-solving orientation' depicted lulls as inevitable and was associated with varied coping strategies; a 'willpower orientation' attributed lulls to lack of 'willpower,' and described willpower as a main coping strategy. Conclusion There is considerable variation in how people think about their diabetes self-management and the strategies they use. Health literacy may contribute to some of this variation. Self-management interventions could benefit from depicting motivation as fluctuating and challenging ideas about willpower and self-blame.