Citation
Sadeghzadeh, Claire; Wallace, Deshira D.; Gonzalez Rodriguez, Humberto; & Barrington, Clare (2021). Coping with Diabetes Stress among Adults in Rural Dominican Republic: "I Don't Think about It". Chronic Illness, 17(4), 391-403.Abstract
Objectives: As type 2 diabetes prevalence increases across Latin America, understanding local approaches to coping with diabetes stress is essential to providing care that incorporates patients’ values and preferences. This study explored a local phenomenon, “no le doy mente” (I don’t think about it), used by adults with type 2 diabetes in the Dominican Republic to cope with diabetes stress.Methods: We conducted 19 qualitative in-depth interviews with adults with type 2 diabetes (10 men, 9 women) recruited from one rural clinic. Using an inductive analytic approach including iterative coding, memos, and matrices, we identified reasons, strategies, and perceived benefits of not thinking about type 2 diabetes among participants.
Results: Participants described not thinking about diabetes as an active process to maintain a sense of normalcy despite significant life changes following diagnosis. They avoided thinking about diabetes by staying busy, proactively managing type 2 diabetes through diet and medication, and turning to their faith. Participants perceived that enacting no le doy mente helped to protect their overall health and well-being.
Discussion: Future research should investigate provider perceptions of no le doy mente to align patient and provider communication and mindfulness-based stress reduction as a way to support people with type 2 diabetes avoid dwelling on negative thoughts about diabetes.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1742395319882069Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2021Journal Title
Chronic IllnessAuthor(s)
Sadeghzadeh, ClaireWallace, Deshira D.
Gonzalez Rodriguez, Humberto
Barrington, Clare
Article Type
RegularContinent/Country
Dominican RepublicORCiD
Barrington - 0000-0001-7802-4051Wallace - 0000-0003-1300-6957