Canadian Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives in the Second Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN2TM) Study: Diabetes Self-Management Improvements

Abstract

The DAWN2 study involved 17 countries, including Canada, and enrolled people with diabetes (PWD), family members (FMs) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to identify required areas of improvement in diabetes self-management and psychosocial factors. In Canada, 500 PWD, 121 FMs and 280 HCPs were recruited, and completed surveys of validated, adapted and newly developed questions. Data were descriptively analyzed. Results, presented as percent of responses, indicated that substantial improvements were required by PWD regarding eating healthily (78% PWD, 62% FMs, 64% HCPs), being physically active (74% PWD, 74% FMs, 80% HCPs) and maintaining healthy weight (70% PWD, 57% FMs, 72% HCPs). Of HCPs, 57% reported that diabetes self-management education and psychological support and care resources needed to be more available for PWD. Further, HCPs said it would be helpful if PWD prepared questions about their diabetes in advance of consultation (86%), told HCPs how to best support them (86%), independently sought information they needed to self-manage (77%) and participated in community activities for improved diabetes care and support (90%). HCPs also felt that diabetes medications needed to be more affordable (62%) and that PWD required better access to the newest diabetes treatments (50%), basic medications (23%) and blood sugar testing supplies/devices (27%). FMs (62%) wanted to know how to deal positively with emotional issues of living with diabetes. Acceptance of people with diabetes as equal members of society still needed addressing (28% PWD, 11% FMs, 11% HCPs). Improvements in all areas depend on the collaboration of HCPs, FMs and PWD.