Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes is chronic disease affecting all aspects of daily life and hence is a priority health care strategy. Its treatment needs a bio-psychosocial approach. One of the major problems in its management is patient noncompliance to therapeutic regimens. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed at assessing to patient experiences of factors facilitating self-management. Materials and Methods: Patients were recruited from the “Glands and Metabolism Research Center” and “Alzahra hospital” in Isfahan in 2006. A purposive sample of 11 diabetic patients volunteered to participate in the study. Unstructured one-on-one interviews were conducted and interview data were transcribed and analyzed for themes using the Collizi method. Results: Themes, identified as facilitators to patient adherence to the therapeutic regimen are fear, satisfaction, support, objective alarm, feedback. Conclusion: The research highlights that factors such as patient satisfaction of treatment, insight into nature of disease, patient anxiety, family involvement as a major source of support, feedback on test results and the self-management process should be considered in designing heath care strategies to facilitate changes in behavior and enhance motivation.