Abstract

BORGES, Alexandra Medeiros; GORAYEB, Ricardo  and  FOSS-FREITAS, Maria Cristina. Psychosocial characterization of diabetes mellitus patients of a public university hospital. Arq. bras. psicol. [online]. 2013, vol.65, n.2, pp. 214-229. ISSN 1809-5267.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize diabetic adult patients of a public university hospital, to evaluate their disease's knowledge, and the psychosocial impact of their illness. METHOD: 62 interviews were performed, verbal contents categorized and frequency counted. RESULTS: 54.8% of the patients were female, 67.7% were married, 77.4% with high school educational level and 88.7% with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. 82.3% of the population knew the importance of a diet, but 46.8% had difficulties in following it. About psychosocial impact, 37,1% gave up on going out because of the disease, 45,2% had affected their ability to work, 29% reported relationship problems. 67.7% presented emotional complaints. CONCLUSION: Patients reported high frequency of emotional complaints, little knowledge and difficulties in dealing with their disease. It is also pointed out the importance of multidisciplinary actions, helping the patient in the disease acceptance process and in the adaptation to the necessary changes favoring treatment adherence.

Keywords : Diabetes Mellitus; Psychology; Multidisciplinary; Depression.

        · abstract in Portuguese | Spanish     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )