Exploring the educational needs of diabetic patients regarding chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Background: An American study has supported that not much is known about educational experiences and needs on diabetes and its complications. Data using a qualitative approach is different from the actual surveys on the knowledge of diabetes and its complications and depth of information, such that the concept of how participants understand information is better explored (Monahan et al., 2007). A systematic review of studies in 54 countries in sub-Saharan Africa supports that diabetic nephropathy with subsequent chronic kidney disease is very common (Noubiap, Naido and Kengne, 2015). The study included cross sectional, cohort, retrospective and prospective studies between 1994 and 2014 with 18 of the 32 studies coming from South Africa. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the educational needs of diabetic patients attending a Public hospital clinic in the Free State Province with regards to developing chronic kidney disease as a complication of diabetes. Two objectives exploring education on kidney disease and information of lifestyle changes required to prevent chronic kidney disease as a complication were stated.Design: Twenty five diabetic patients participated in the study and agreed to be interviewed during their regular visits at the diabetic clinic. The researcher conducted face to face interviews in private rooms and data was recorded transcribed and analysed using thematic data analysis. Eight males participated in the study and seventeen females. They all had either type 1 diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes mellitus with other comorbidities such as hypertension, pain, asthma, arthritis and tuberculosis. All races were represented with the majority being blacks and Sotho speaking. Data analysis: Thematic data analysis was used for this study. Using the seven steps of thematic data analysis the researcher was able to focus on significant points and themes to elaborate the results clearly. A detailed discussion of the steps follows in chapter three of this report. Results: The educational needs of diabetic patients regarding chronic kidney disease are not met by healthcare professionals and are a concern according to these study findings. There is a need to develop educational input across all means of communication that addresses the basic kidney physiology as well as the disease pattern of diabetes so that patients can understand the correlation between diabetes and kidney disease. Educational tools should be available in all eleven languages and information should be presented in simple terms. An explanation of blood and urine kidney function tests should also be outlined in the tool.