Abstract ID: 205
Affiliations:
Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital
Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition that requires not only medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments but also a psychological shift in how individuals perceive themselves in relation to their illness. This shift, known as Health Identity Transformation (HIT), involves cognitive, emotional, and behavioral integration of the chronic disease into one’s sense of self. While existing research has focused primarily on self-management and behavioral adherence, little attention has been given to how individuals with T2DM reconstruct their health identity over time. Understanding HIT may help bridge the gap between behavior change and sustainable diabetes management. Objectives: This study aims to explore the process and influencing factors of HIT among individuals with T2DM. The specific objectives are: 1.To examine how individuals with T2DM perceive and develop their health identity. 2.To identify key facilitators and barriers to the transformation process. 3.To generate a grounded model describing HIT in the context of diabetes care. Methods: This qualitative study will employ grounded theory methodology. Participants will include adults diagnosed with T2DM for at least one year, recruited from outpatient clinics at a tertiary care hospital in Thailand. Data will be collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed using constant comparative analysis to construct emergent themes and a theoretical framework. Ethical approval is pending and will be obtained prior to data collection. Expected Outcomes: This study is expected to generate a model that explains how individuals with T2DM experience and navigate changes in health identity. The findings will contribute to the development of identity-based interventions and support more personalized approaches to chronic disease care. Status of Study: Planned but not yet initiated.
Keywords: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Health Identity Transformation, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Chronic Disease Management, Qualitative Research