Reasons for non-participation in a self-care training program for diabetic patients: a qualitative study

INTRODUCTION: Self-care behaviors in diabetic patients is considered an important factor for controlling the diabetes. Therefore, diabetic patients need training the self-care behaviors to control this disease. This study aims to investigate the reasons for diabetic patients’ non-participation in a self-care training program. METHOD: This qualitative study was carried out between 1 April to 1 July 2019. We used in-depth semi-structured interviews with 30 diabetic patients who did not participate in the self-care training program. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis with MAXQDA software. FINDINGS: The results of this study showed that there are 5 themes and 14 sub-themes for patients’ non-participation in self-care training program. Themes included access; individual, familial and social factors; attitude and awareness; motivator factors and need Factors. Also sub-themes were physical access, time access, physical abilities, social-familial responsibilities, attitude to disease, attitude to education, attitude to health, awareness, incentive, communication, teaching methods, perceived risk, access to other educational resources and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, simple physical and time access, offering high-quality education, providing virtual and distant training, organizing and designing modern training methods can lead to increase participation in self-care training programs.