Representações sociais dos alimentos para pessoas com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Social representations of food for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

This study aimed to identify social representations of food from the perspective of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. This is a descriptive, exploratory research with a qualitative approach, in the theoretical framework of social representations theory. This framework was chosen because it is the most adequate to investigate how type 2 diabetes mellitus patients perceive social representations of foods. The theoretical focus is based on Moscovicis social psychology, deepened by Denise Jodelet. Participants were selected based on the waiting list at the Research and University Service Center in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil in 2008. The sample consisted of 14 male and female participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus, whose age ranged from 43 to 83 years, in compliance with selection criteria. For data collection, a structured interview script and a semistructured interview script based on literature were used, with the following guiding question: I would like you to talk about what food means to you in your daily life. The data saturation criterion was used to finish the interviews. Data were submitted to thematic content analysis, which permitted the identification of seven theme categories: -Food for diabetes does not sustain; -Feelings about food; -Disbelief in health professionals orientation; -High cost of food recommended for diabetes; -Pleasure ruling the search for food; -Diabetes as the devil; -Food as an addiction. The results showed contradictions in the participants testimonies; food consumption is sometimes ruled by the Idea that foods recommended by health professionals do not sustain, sometimes by pleasure, sometimes by feelings of depression, inferiority, anxiety, among others; participants also link food with addiction, and type 2 diabetes mellitus with the devil. According to the participants, food represents something they want and reject at the same time, leading to mental suffering, which makes it more difficult to achieve metabolic control. On the other hand, in performing memory reactivation functions, besides comfort and security, food can favor interactions between people. The results obtained in this research are important to redirect diabetes education programs, particularly for care delivery to type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who need support to follow the food plan. In this sense, the multiprofessional health team needs to acknowledge the subjectivity and symbolic and cultural aspects involved in food planning for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Identifying and valuing these aspects will permit greater bonding between health professionals and these patients and, consequently, diabetes care delivery that considers their true needs and expectations. By identifying type 2 diabetes patients social representations of food, it is hoped that health professionals can acquire a new look with a view to understanding type 2 diabetes mellitus care.

ASSUNTO(S)

diabetes mellitus doença crônica representação representation psychology alimentos food chronic disease psicologia diabetes mellitus

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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