Table 3 Themes and sub themes of participants
Themes | Probe | Demographics | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|
Perception towards self-monitoring blood glucose practices | |||
In your opinion what is the preferred method of recording blood glucose reading? | 59/F Indian Amputate leg | I (prefer to) manually record. I do not understand how to use a telephone especially opening (applications and other function on the telephone). To me manual (recording) is easier | |
47/M Malay Amputate arm | I am an old person I like it to be (hand) written. Anyway as long as someone shows me how to do it I can do it (electronic monitoring). Of course it’s easier because you bring your hand phone everywhere you go | ||
35/F Chinese Amputate leg | (I prefer the) digitals way (telemedicine). Everyday you can see it in your digital way in the software (digital diary) so (there is) no need to record like manually. Sometime(s) even (if) you record manually the paper (is placed) wherever (and will go) missing. (With telemedicine) you have a backup. Due to (limited mobility) I am dependent on family members for (regular check-up), so this electronic log (will help my physician) to track down my performance | ||
Do you think self-monitoring of blood glucose useful for diabetes management? | 44/M Malay Amputate leg | I think, It’s useful to me as an indication (of my sugar control). I prefer that I can use it to check my blood sugar (levels and so I can study how this medication effect(s) my glucose (levels). Also this (reduces my dependency) to family members | |
59/F Chinese Amputate arm | Well this is the age of information technology, you can monitor (your health condition) by the Internet everywhere you go. I just (log into) the Internet (and I can track) my dose, what food (or) meal and what nutrition is suitable to my body. You will narrow (down the self-care methods) that suit your body and not other peoples | ||
What stops people for self-care practices? | 46/M Indian Amputate arm | Self-monitoring is okay but sometimes-financial conflict (unable to buy sticks for glucometer) let me forget about checking my sugar for months… then suddenly I few symptoms (hyperglycaemic or hypoglycaemic) pops-up and I remember to continue my sugar monitoring | |
55/F Chinese Amputate arm | I think (it) depend(s) on the situation where you live in a village (which is) very difficult now also because certain villages you don’t have traditional gathering so traditional food with rich sugar (often) serve you already (know) that (day) your sugar is not in control… so no point of monitoring. I usually double the drug dose | ||
63/M Malay Amputate leg | Well what (I can say), I am (afraid) of blood, so I cant monitor (my self) sugar… sometimes my son (when free) check the sugar…… Usually (twice or three) times per month.. but sometimes I feel (dizzy) so I asked him to check (blood sugar) | ||