Introduction
The global prevalence of diabetes has surpassed 537 million individuals, with over 95% of these cases classified as T2DM, also known as non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes [1]. In China, older adults with diabetes represent 27.8% of the global diabetic population. Furthermore, the aging demographic is anticipated to further elevate the proportion of older individuals diagnosed with T2DM [2]. This trend not only heightens the risk of complications such as diabetic nephropathy and diabetic foot syndrome [3], but also contributes to an increased incidence of blindness, disability, and cognitive impairment, ultimately leading to a reduction in life expectancy for these patients [4].
Considering the long-term, comprehensive, and complex care needs of elderly patients with T2DM, it is essential to implement extensive supportive care [5]. Health outcomes for these patients depended not only on high-quality support services, which included medication adherence, adherence to a diabetic diet, blood glucose monitoring, and regular exercise [6‐7], but also on addressing their psychological issues and other social needs [8‐10]. However, it was evident that current care interventions were insufficient in effectively meeting patient needs. Research indicated that T2DM exacerbated gait and cognitive impairments in patients with Parkinson’s disease [11]. Furthermore, frequent fluctuations in blood sugar levels could heighten feelings of fear and anxiety among elderly T2DM patients [12]. Insufficient family support, such as the absence of children or experiences of widowhood, led to loneliness and even mental health issues in this population [13]. These challenges faced in nursing encompassed physical, psychological, and social dimensions, necessitating collaborative efforts between nurses and patients to enhance mutual care capabilities and health awareness. To achieve high-quality cooperation, it was essential for both parties to strengthen the exchange of information and maintain communication.
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A variety of information sources influenced an individual’s health choices [14]. Effective information support could integrate patients’ treatment options, quality of life, and coping strategies, thereby assisting them in managing uncertainty and developing responses to health threats [15‐16]. One study indicated that diabetes education was a critical issue in China, with 20.24% of participants reporting that they had not received any diabetes education information, furthermore, more than 60–70% of patients were uninformed about diabetes risk factors, such as smoking and foot care [17]. Poor health information literacy among patients with diabetes led to inadequate glycemic control and an increased risk of diabetes-related complications [18]. However, processing health-related information presented significant challenges for elderly patients [19]. Early research suggested that nurses served as an essential source of diabetes-related information for these patients and played a crucial role in guiding health behaviors [20]. The lack of an effective information interaction mechanism between nurses and patients prevented timely feedback regarding changes in patients’ conditions [21]. This limitation hindered the ability of diabetes specialist nurses to educate their patients. Patients perceived hospital staffs as inattentive to their needs, while nurses acknowledged their inability to provide comprehensive care [22]. This mutual neglect of each other’s core communication needs was particularly prevalent among elderly patients with T2DM and nurses.
Significance of the study
As the primary healthcare professionals who interacted frequently with patients, nurses played a vital role in providing supportive care, thus, their perceptions and attitudes were essential for addressing the information needs of elderly patients with T2DM [23]. Moreover, to improve effective supportive care interventions for patients, it was crucial to gather insights regarding their care experiences and unmet needs. This engagement necessitated an understanding of the informational disparities between nurses and patients.
Aim and hypotheses of the study
This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of nurses and patients on the misplacement of supportive care information for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Before the study, we hypothesized that: (a) both nurses and patients with T2DM acknowledged a misalignment in the transmission of information between the two parties, and (b) there were differences in the supportive care information needs of nurses and patients.
Methods
Design
This qualitative descriptive study was conducted between June and October 2024. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to investigate the discrepancies in supportive care information among elderly patients with T2DM. Qualitative descriptive (QD) research methods offered several advantages for this study. Firstly, QD allowed for the exploration of the inner experiences, needs, and emotions of elderly patients with T2DM from a naturalistic perspective [24‐25]. This approach uncovered insights that quantitative data might overlook, such as the subconscious motivations underlying behaviors. Secondly, through comprehensive patient interviews and observations, researchers had gathered valuable firsthand insights that could inform the development of more personalized and holistic supportive care strategies [26]. Lastly, QD was characterized as being less theory-driven than other qualitative methods [27], which enhanced flexibility in the commitment to a specific theory or framework during the design and conduct of the research [28]. For instance, researchers could determine the necessity of adhering to a theory or framework based on the progression of their research. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist was followed to ensure the quality of research [29].
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Setting
The interviewees were recruited from a geriatric hospital in Zhengzhou, a city in central China, which was the only tertiary specialist geriatric hospital in the region.
Participants
The participants in the study include two groups. Group 1: a criterion purposive sample of patients with the following inclusion criteria: (a) meet the 1999 WHO diagnostic criteria for diabetes, (b) age ≥ 60 years old, (c) patients have an awareness of their disease, (d) possess normal communication and expression skills, and (e) informed consent and voluntary participation are required. The exclusion criteria include: (a) presence of severe organic diseases, (b) individuals with mental, cognitive, and visual impairments that hinder cooperation with this study, and (c) unwilling to participate for any reason. Group 2: a convenience sample of nurses with the following inclusion criteria: registered nurses who had been involved in T2DM care for two or more years. All participating nurses engaged in the interviews based on the principles of informed consent and voluntary participation.
This study employed a purposive sampling technique, utilizing a maximum change strategy to select participants. This approach enabled the researcher to effectively capture the meaning, context, and content of the most critical supportive care information needs, along with the factors influencing information bias among nurses and patients [30]. Such a method was widely recognized as a valuable sampling technique in qualitative descriptive research, facilitating the acquisition of broad insights and rich information [31‐32]. After conducting 33 interviews (21 with patients and 12 with nurses), data redundancy and information saturation were observed, leading to the conclusion that further interviews were unnecessary [33].
Data collection
Based on the supportive care framework theory, this study developed a tailored interview checklist that encompassed demographic information, specifics regarding the disease and treatment, as well as open-ended questions [32]. Two clinical nurse experts evaluated the checklist’s content and conducted two pre-interviews to ensure its rigor. The final version of the interview checklist comprised the following sections: (A) Common questions: (a) cognition and understanding of the definition and connotation of supportive care, (b) the aspects of supportive care deemed important, (c) the significance of implementing supportive care services; (B) Patients’ perspective: (a) content of care services received, (b) experiences and feelings associated with receiving care services, (c) assessment of whether the service content and quality meet expectations and the reasons behind this evaluation, (d) the role of nurses and their evaluation in supportive care, (e) current unmet needs and anticipated assistance; (C) Nursers’ perspective: (a) content of care services provided, (b) identification of care services that patients wish to receive, (c) self-evaluation and patient evaluation, (d) experiences and feelings, (e) current challenges and anticipated support. Shown in Supplementary Material 1.
Interviews were conducted in a private and quiet setting, involving one interviewer and one primary nurse. The interviewer had extensive experience in qualitative researches, while the primary nurse fostered a trusting relationship between both parties. Prior to the interviews, the primary nurse assisted the interviewer in clarifying the purpose, contents, and intentions of the interview to the participants. All interviews were audio-recorded, and the interviewer noted the participants’ body language and emotional expressions (e.g., laughter, tears, frowns) during the sessions to better assess their true thoughts. Each interview lasted between 30 and 40 min. Demographic and disease-related information about the participants was obtained from medical records to avoid interrupting the narrative flow.
Data analysis
The qualitative content analysis method developed by Graneheim and Lundman was employed for the data analysis in this study [34]. This methodology facilitated a systematic description and interpretation of the data, providing a structured approach to examining the contexts, meanings, and interrelations of participants’ care needs. It enabled the identification of dilemmas related to patient care needs and offered insights on how to address these issues [35]. The analysis process was conducted in several stages: (1) data preparation, (2) organization of linguistic units (words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs), (3) unit classification through coding, (4) assessment of coding consistency, and (5) extraction of key thematic results aligned with the Supportive Care Framework. Content analysis was carried out independently by YL and CL. In cases of disagreement regarding the interpretation of codes or categories, LY or HZ was consulted to facilitate consensus building. Nvivo 12 software was utilized for the data analysis.
Ethics
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhengzhou Ninth People’s Hospital (No. LLky-202408) and adhered to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants were assured of the following: (a) their right to withdraw from the study at any time; (b) that participant information would be limited to use within this study; (c) that a refusal to be interviewed would not result in any discrimination; and (d) the potential benefits of participation, such as health education and health consultation.
Results
A total of 21 patients (11 males and 10 females) were interviewed (Table 1). The ages of the patients varied from 60 to 82 years, while the duration of their diseases ranged from 1 to 20 years. A total of 12 nurses (2 males and 10 females) were interviewed. These nurses possessed 3 ~ 15 years of experience in providing primary care to individuals with T2DM (Table 2). Five themes emerged from the interviews: (i) consistent value identity, (ii) inadequate information carriers, (iii) conflicting subject needs, (iv) loose information links, and (v) strong willingness to improve (Table 3).
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Table 1
Demographic characteristics of patients
NO. | Gender | Age (year) | Education level | Duration of Illness (Years) | In-Hospital Caregivers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P1 | Male | 60 | Middle school | 1 | No |
P2 | Female | 69 | Primary school or less | 9 | Family member |
P3 | Male | 70 | Primary school or less | 5 | health carer |
P4 | Female | 61 | Middle school | 2 | No |
P5 | Female | 63 | Senior school | 4 | health carer |
P6 | Male | 64 | Primary school or less | 10 | Family member |
P7 | Female | 62 | Middle school | 9 | No |
P8 | Male | 66 | Senior school | 7 | Family member |
P9 | Female | 77 | Primary school or less | 12 | health carer |
P10 | Female | 63 | Middle school | 5 | No |
P11 | Male | 72 | Primary school or less | 8 | health carer |
P12 | Female | 69 | Middle school | 4 | health carer |
P13 | Male | 60 | Senior school | 11 | No |
P14 | Male | 69 | Primary school or less | 13 | health carer |
P15 | Male | 63 | Primary school or less | 4 | health carer |
P16 | Female | 75 | Primary school or less | 10 | health carer |
P17 | Female | 82 | Middle school | 20 | health carer |
P18 | Male | 64 | Senior school | 2 | No |
P19 | Female | 68 | Primary school or less | 6 | health carer |
P20 | Male | 73 | Primary school or less | 5 | Family member |
P21 | Male | 60 | College or above | 3 | No |
Table 2
Demographic characteristics of nurses
NO. | Gender | Age (year) | Nurse level | Education level | Years of experience in nursing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N1 | Female | 35 | N3 | College | 5 |
N2 | Female | 26 | N1 | College | 3 |
N3 | Male | 31 | N2 | College | 8 |
N4 | Female | 31 | N2 | College | 7 |
N5 | Female | 34 | N2 | College | 9 |
N6 | Female | 27 | N1 | College | 3 |
N7 | Female | 45 | N3 | Senior school | 15 |
N8 | Female | 37 | N3 | Senior school | 10 |
N9 | Male | 30 | N2 | College | 6 |
N10 | Female | 46 | N3 | Senior school | 12 |
N11 | Female | 36 | N3 | College | 11 |
N12 | Female | 34 | N2 | College | 9 |
Table 3
Summary of themes, category and sub-themes derived from analyses of text and Focus Records
Theme | Category | Sub-theme | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
Consistent value identity | Opinions | Significant value of nursing information | ①The “bridge” for continuous communication; ②Providing emotional value; ③The foundation for enhancing self-management; ④The basis for promoting healthy behavior |
Facilitate collaborative training initiatives | ①Implementing joint training; ②Thoroughly exploring the implications of information | ||
Appreciate the interview topic | ①Meaningful interviews; ②Feel noticed | ||
Inadequate information carriers | Phenomena | Limited communication channels | ①The constraints posed by limited practice space; ②The challenges associated with a restricted audience group |
Challenges of media communication | ①the low utilization of traditional media; ②the weak applicability of new media | ||
Conflicting subject needs | Misalignment of service content | ①Poor comorbidity management; ②the absence of psychological interventions;③the mismatch between supply and demand | |
Delays in addressing information needs | ①delayed feedback; ②the disconnection between information and demand | ||
Bias in information provision | ①Invalid information from medical staff; ②Delayed information; ③Asymmetric information | ||
Loose information links | Quality of Caregiver Professionalism | ①Insufficient practical skills; ②Limited understanding; ③Inadequate awareness of problem feedback | |
The network information dilemma | ①Low utilization of the Internet; ②Difficulty in filtering online information | ||
Strong willingness to improve | Needs | Establishing a robust information transmission mechanism | ①Establish regular communication; ②Maintain long-term contact; ③Solicit feedback on appeals |
Enhancing the practicality of information application | ①Make health information guidance specific and quantitative; ②Enhance the two-way and interactive nature of information transmission |
Themes 1: consistent value identity
Participants acknowledged the crucial role of information in enhancing the quality of care and meeting patient needs. They affirmed the significance of the interviews and expressed a desire for improved information support.
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Significant value of nursing information
Participants identified information needs as a crucial component of supportive care, indicating that these needs guided interventions across multiple domains. Specifically, they served as a “bridge” for continuous communication between nurses and patients, providing emotional support that enhanced patient self-management and encourages healthy behaviors.
Information exchange is a prerequisite for any care plan we develop. Maintaining a consistent exchange of ideas is essential for remaining connected, whether in treatment or in life-sustaining functions. (N1)
Engaging in conversation with the nurse provided me with a sense of peace. I found comfort in our dialogue, alleviating my anxiety about my inability to control my blood sugar levels. (P9)
Facilitate collaborative training initiatives
Participants proposed that nurses and patients should engage in collaborative communication concerning care information and mutual needs, with oversight provided by medical experts.
Previous training sessions on nursing topics have generally concentrated on a single group, either exclusively involving patients or solely addressing nurses, with limited opportunities for sessions that incorporate both nurses and patients. (N2)
Appreciate the interview topic
All participants expressed satisfaction with the interview topics. Nurses recognized the value of the interviews and reflected on their previous roles in disseminating information. Patients indicated that the interviews not only made them feel valued but also motivated them to actively seek knowledge about health-related topics and information.
You highlighted several issues that I had not previously considered, providing me with a valuable framework for future discussions with my patients regarding the formulation of care plans and the conduct of informational consultations. (N4)
I appreciate your willingness to engage in this topic with me, as I have not yet acquired more useful information related to life management. (P6)
Themes 2: inadequate information carriers
Limited communication channels
Factors such as mobility issues among elderly patients and the lack of care for those living alone can decrease the frequency of hospital visits for consultations with nurses. Furthermore, the limited availability of out-of-hospital settings for health education restricts opportunities for older patients to engage in face-to-face interactions with nurses for information.
Currently, the locations designated for out-of-hospital missionary work are confined to specific communities. This arrangement aims to facilitate access for the elderly with limited mobility; however, it does not encompass all communities. (P12)
Challenges of media communication
Elderly patients faced challenges in learning and utilizing new media tools, such as TikTok and WeChat, to access supportive care information, particularly those experiencing cognitive decline.
The primary reason we seldom conduct online meetings is that elderly individuals, particularly those over 70 years of age, typically possess limited experience with smartphones. This makes it challenging for them to utilize WeChat for sustained communication with us. (N3)
I find it more convenient to engage with educational materials that include visual elements. (P20)
Themes 3: conflicting subject needs
The misalignment of information demand between nurses and patients was evident in three key aspects: the misalignment of service content, delays in information processing, and bias in information provision.
Misalignment of service content
Nurses faced challenges in delivering comprehensive information regarding care for complications related to T2DM, and mental health support for older adults was not prioritized. Besides, the supportive information offered by nurses had not been prioritized by patients.
Nurses advised me to manage my blood sugar; however, they did not address my other concerns. (P7)
I felt a strong desire to communicate my feelings to them, especially to seek reassurance during periods of blood sugar instability. Unfortunately, I did not express these feelings, nor did they take the initiative to inquire about my emotional state. (P8)
Delays in addressing information needs
The absence of timely communication between nurses and patients led to delays in processing patient feedback. Furthermore, unprofessional presentations and limited interactions contributed to a disconnect between the feedback received by the nurse and the actual needs of the patient.
My inquiries often required considerable time to elicit responses from nurses, with delays ranging from minutes to days, leaving me uncertain about the continued relevance of the information provided. (P4)
Frequently, the responses I receive do not align with my expectations, as they fail to adequately address the issues I have raised. (P11)
Bias in information provision
Information provision bias encompassed both invalid information and information asymmetry. The former pertained to health information that lacked specific actionability or clear objectives. The latter described the apparent discrepancy between the solutions offered to patients and their actual needs, which led to program failure.
The educational messages conveyed by the nurses were overly general and appeared relevant to the management of various diseases, failing to address specific issues related to diabetes. (P2)
Although the nurse seemed content with the advice provided, the information offered was of limited assistance to me. (P14)
Themes 4: Loose information links
Effective communication between nurses and patients depended on the caregivers and the use of Internet platforms.
Quality of caregiver professionalism
Caregivers lacked sufficient knowledge regarding the patient’s condition and possessed limited nursing experience.
Elderly patients frequently depend on caregivers or family members to communicate important information. However, these individuals often lack professional training, which may result in the oversight of critical issues that warrant attention. (N6)
The network information dilemma
Patients sought information independently through platforms such as WeChat, Tiktok, and various health websites. However, nurses had not yet fully leveraged these tools to effectively communicate information to patients. This lack of nurses’ ability to evaluate online information hindered patients’ access to accurate and beneficial health guidance.
We established a WeChat group for all discharged patients and regularly post messages, although not frequently. (N5)
I frequently search for diabetes-related content on the Internet; however, I often find it challenging to ascertain its accuracy. (P16)
Themes 5: strong willingness to improve
Respondents identified two key areas for future improvement: the establishment of a robust information transmission mechanism and the enhancement of the practicality of information support.
Establishing a robust information transmission mechanism
The interviewed patients emphasized the need for clarification regarding the cycle, frequency, and specific methods of information communication. They also highlighted the importance of implementing measures to ensure that communication occurs in a timely and effective manner.
To foster a closer relationship with patients beyond the hospital environment, it is crucial to integrate relevant requirements into our work plan. At present, these information communication efforts are primarily driven by personal initiative rather than necessity. (N12)
Enhancing the practicality of information application
Patients indicated that nurses prioritized the delivery of information to them, rather than assessing the relevance of the content to their individual needs. Conversely, nurses maintained that enhancing patients’ capacity to articulate their information needs was essential for improving the efficiency of information transmission.
Increased frequency of communication is essential for understanding each other’s needs. (N7)
Proactive patient feedback should be incentivized, as it plays a crucial role in the development of effective services. (N12)
Discussion
To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first investigation that explored disparities in care information from elderly patients with T2DM and nurses in China. This study proved that our hypothesis was valid. The results of the study indicated that all participants recognized the importance of nursing information, expressed a need for high-quality information, acknowledged the disparities in nursing information between nurses and patients, and showed interest in further research addressing inconsistent information. Additionally, this qualitative data identified several characteristics that illustrate the differences in nursing information between nurses and patients: (1) inadequate information carriers, (2) conflicting subject needs, and (3) loose information links.
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Multiple information dissemination carriers contributed to the stability of information interaction channels [36]. The findings of this study showed that a deficiency in information interaction carriers between elderly patients with T2DM and nurses. Specifically, phone and WeChat (an online communication platform) served as the primary tools utilized by both. Home-based nursing services provided by nurses represented an optimal method for elderly patients to access information [37]. Many cities in China had implemented relevant services; however, concerns regarding costs deterred patients from utilizing them [38]. Additionally, in regions with limited medical resources, delivering door-to-door nursing services posed significant challenges [39]. The absence of adequate information carriers also influenced the timing and frequency of nurses’ follow-up visits to patients at home, subsequently impacting the effectiveness of information exchange between the two groups [40]. Tan et al. found that effective information management necessitated immediate follow-up arrangements within the first week after patient discharge, allowing for timely adjustments to management strategies that facilitated a stable transition from hospital to home. Follow-up visits should be scheduled within three and six months to monitor patient health management [41].
This study identified information misalignment between nurses and elderly patients with T2DM. The misalignment might be associated with the communication abilities and focus of participants [42]. In this study, nurses expressed a preference for providing patients with information regarding their physical needs, whereas patients showed a greater interest in receiving information about their mental health. This finding aligns with prior researches indicating that registered nurses exhibited greater confidence and effectiveness in communicating with patients regarding physical health compared to emotional health [43‐44]. Psychosocial issues, positive emotions and partner statements received much less attention than physical care information [45]. In this study, the delayed information processing experienced by patients due to nurses’ interactions emerged as a significant demand dislocation. It was linked to the absence of established communication channels between nurses and patients. Some studies [46‐48] supported this point that nurses exhibited poor skills in answering patients’ questions, clarifying their doubts or exploring their comments, which hindered the timely exchange of information. In these interviews, the phenomena of information provision bias were invalid information and information asymmetry, which arose from the power imbalance in communication between nurses and patients. Nurse-patient communication lacked a patient-centered approach, with nurses typically initiating the collection of patient information [49]. Previous researches indicated that nurses tend to dominate communication and interaction when they initiate contact, decided on the topic, or had an instructor role [50]. Actively encouraging patients to engage in discussions with the healthcare team and promoting their participation in dialogue could help to mitigate asymmetry within the patient-provider relationship.
This study found that the quality of caregivers directly influenced the extent of nurse-patient information interaction outside the hospital. The physical fitness of caregivers impacted their long-term utility as care partners. Additionally, their professional knowledge and skills reflected their ability to identify risks, while their mental health status affected the quality of care provided and their caregiving behavior [51]. Training nurses to offer professional support to family caregivers—encompassing emotional, practical, and informational content—was an effective strategy for fostering a partnership that facilitated the acquisition of patient information. This study also found that elderly patients with T2DM were less inclined to use the Internet for remote information support, which was consistent with the previous findings [52‐53]. The high demands on learning and cognitive abilities restricted the level of Internet usage among elderly patients and concurrently increased their error rates when using computers to complete tasks. Face-to-face interaction with nurses remained the preferred method for information exchange among the elderly [54]. This study also demonstrated that providing an illustrated information booklet served as an effective alternative to face-to-face interactions. It simplified the learning process for the elderly by eliminating the complexities associated with online learning, thereby enabling them to access information and consultations in a more intuitive manner. Therefore, patient demographics, learning perspectives, and access to technology should be taken into account when designing and implementing information support.
Recommendation
To address the discrepancies in patient-nursing information services and mitigate misunderstandings regarding each other’s informational needs, it is essential to establish a robust nursing information support framework beyond the hospital setting. Firstly, a formal contact group comprising nurses and patients (including family members) should be formed as early as possible during the patient’s hospitalization to facilitate joint training. The primary focus of training should be on enhancing nurses’ professional support capabilities and improving patients’ information feedback abilities. Secondly, the cycle, frequency, and specific methods of out-of-hospital communication should be integrated into discharge preparations. Appropriate communication media should be selected based on the learning and cognitive abilities of elderly patients, and the use of specific visual aids ought to be promoted to explore the potential effectiveness of the Internet. Furthermore, the inclusion of supervisors in the liaison group positively impacts the enhancement of information support between nurses and patients.
Limitation
To the best of our knowledge, this was the first qualitative study examining the misalignment of supportive care information between Chinese nurses and elderly patients with T2DM. It enhanced our understanding of the information needs of both patients and nurses. But, certain limitations remained within this study. First, the results of qualitative research were inherently susceptible to the subjective interpretation of the researcher, which introduced a degree of bias. Second, due to the variations in health service conditions across different regions, the care environments experienced by nurses and patients in this specific area might not align with those in other regions, thereby limiting the generalizability of the study’s findings. Finally, while many elderly patients with T2DM received long-term home or community care, this study did not include interviews with community nurses, which further constrained the results.
Conclusion
The study revealed a misalignment of supportive care information between nurses and elderly patients with T2DM. Both patients and nurses acknowledged the importance of care information and expressed a desire to address the existing challenges related to information exchange. Challenges to nurse-patient information interactions encompass insufficient communication channels beyond the hospital setting, conflicting information needs, suboptimal nursing quality, and difficulties in utilizing the Internet. To address these challenges, it is crucial for health service providers to establish an information support framework, leverage various communication media to enhance communication among team members, and strengthen nurses’ professional support skills and patient information feedback capabilities.
Implications
This study examined the content and causes of mismatched nursing information from the perspectives of both patients and nurses. Clinical healthcare staff could utilize the relevant findings to identify deficiencies in current supportive care services and address these gaps. In response to the challenge posed by disconnection between discharged patients and nurses, we proposed establishing an information transfer mechanism and forming a formal contact group, which would further enhance the connection between nurses and patients. This investigation into the care preferences and key needs of diabetic patients aimed to provide valuable insights for developing supportive care intervention programs.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all the patients and nurses who participated in this study for their invaluable contributions.
Declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. We affirm that all methods were implemented in compliance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. The research received approval from the Medical Ethics Committee of Zhengzhou Ninth People’s Hospital. Participants were informed about the study, and it was emphasized that their participation was entirely voluntary; they could withdraw from the study at any time without consequence. Subsequently, written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Consent for publication
Not Applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Clinical trial number
Not applicable.
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