Citation

Lippa KD, Klein HA, Shalin VL. Hum. Factors 2008; 50(1): 112-120.

Affiliation

Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH 45435-0001, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18354975

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between decision making and successful diabetes self-management. BACKGROUND: Patients with type II diabetes make routine but critical self-management decisions. METHOD: We conducted cognitive task analysis interviews with 18 patients to examine problem detection, functional relationships, problem-solving strategies, and types of knowledge used to make self-management decisions. We expected that these decision processes would be related to behavioral adherence and glycemic control. RESULTS: Verbal reports displaying problem detection skills, knowledge of functional relationships, and effective problem-solving strategies were all related to better adherence. Problem detection skill was linked to greater glycemic control. Participants differed in declarative and applied knowledge. CONCLUSION: Diabetes self-management draws on the same cognitive skills found in experts from diverse professional domains. Considering diabetes self-management as a form of expertise may support adherence. APPLICATION: Human factors approaches that support professional expertise may be useful for the decision making of patients with diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Language: en