Abstract

Author:
Norbaidurah Ithnain, Rosnani Kassim, Nadia Amirudin, Manimaran Krishnan, Albeny Joslyn Panting

Doi: 10.26480/jhcdc.01.2024.01.09

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Background: Healthcare providers (HCPs) are vital in empowering self-care among diabetic patients. They act as an enabler in promoting positive behavioral change that may improve diabetes self-management and clinical outcomes. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to explore HCPs’ views and experiences with regard to diabetes management using the Information, Motivation, and Behavior (IMB) Model. According to the IMB model, an individual’s ability to perform behavioral change depends on their level of knowledge about the behavior, motivation to engage in the action, and power of the behavior skills to do so in various contexts. Methods: In this qualitative study, two Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted in Selangor, Malaysia in 2019. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit 13 diverse teams of HCPs. An interview guide was used during the FGD. All interviews were audio-recorded before being transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Eight emerging themes and 21 subthemes were extracted based on the three primary constructs of IMB, namely: 1) Information: Diabetes knowledge and health education delivery method, 2) Motivation: Patient’s motivation in diabetes management, HCPs motivating and demotivating factors in providing diabetes management health services, HCP’s motivational approaches, and 3) Behavior: Diabetes-related behavior and lifestyle behavior. Conclusion: Based on the findings of FGDs, the IMB model is a comprehensive health behavior change framework that is appropriate for diabetes management. In addition to educating patients with information, HCPs should focus on motivating patients and enhancing behavioral skills to stimulate behavioral change. Understanding the views and experience of HCPs using the IMB model is beneficial in establishing the interventional strategies that can improve the outcome of diabetes management.