Metaphorical Images of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus On their Disease

MUSLU L., GÜNBAYI İ., ARDAHAN M.

2nd Annual International Conference on Nursing, Atina, Greece, 2 - 05 May 2016, pp.48, (Summary Text)

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • City: Atina
  • Country: Greece
  • Page Numbers: pp.48
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

 

The purpose of this study is to investigate why and what mental images (metaphors) that participants with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus formulated to describe the concept of diabetes mellitus which they experienced based on their professional culture. This is a qualitative study with phenomenological design as the study aims to analyze Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus from the participants perspectives in details. The research sought to use qualitative methods to gather the relevant data via semi-structured interviews with the sample of 13 volunteer participants with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus selected based on purposive sampling method and criterion sampling technique. Thus, the mapping of interview questions was carried out in three levels. Firstly, interviewers were asked an initial question as: What do you think Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is like? A thing, a living thing, etc.? Secondly, they were asked follow-up question as why? Finally, they were asked to give their reasons for the metaphors they formulated for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. As a result of the findings, participants formulated 16 metaphors under 8 main themes as machine, plant, disease, animal, human, thing, traffic and others. The metaphors they formulated revealed what Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus meant to them. Thus the outcome of the research addresses important implications for the life of people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on how to self-manage their disease and to be guided them.