Health equilibrium in Korean adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A hybrid concept analysis

AIM: The aim of the study was to provide a concept analysis of health equilibrium among patients with diabetes and introduced its operational definition. DESIGN: A concept analysis was conducted using a hybrid model of Schwartz‐Barcott and Kim (Nursing research methodology: issues and implementations, Aspen, 1986). METHODS: Using consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines, 10 participants with diabetes mellitus were interviewed. Each participant conducted at least two interviews, with each interview session lasting approximately 20–60 min at home or in a quiet place with some privacy. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach. RESULTS: The health equilibrium concept included four categories with 12 attributes: cognitive (commitment to health, willingness to make life adjustments, balanced awareness, maintaining control), social (social role performance, holding a social support system, participation in social relationships), behavioural (leading a balanced life, making efforts to maintain health, modulating overreaction diabetes) and psychological (hopefulness for a healthy life psychological stability) factors. Thus, health equilibrium was defined as a state in which remain committed to health, while maintaining a stable daily life, social relationships and psychological stability despite prejudices against the disease and self‐care experiences. CONCLUSION: Health equilibrium for diabetes patients was defined as maintaining cognitive, social, behavioural and psychological equilibrium as a process of willingly adjusting to life with diabetes. This can help people with diabetes improve self‐care and maintain social roles.