Barriers and facilitators of complications risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative content analysis

Abstract Background Diabetes and its complications have emerged as a significant health threat to rural residents. Accurately perceiving the risk of complications may play a crucial role in modifying health behaviors and preventing complications’ occurrence. We aimed to explore the barriers to and f...

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Main Authors: Zi-chen Zhang, Xiao-wei Wang, Shao-bo Li, Yu-qin Liu, Yu-min Li, Hong-Hong Jia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22299-x
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author Zi-chen Zhang
Xiao-wei Wang
Shao-bo Li
Yu-qin Liu
Yu-min Li
Hong-Hong Jia
author_facet Zi-chen Zhang
Xiao-wei Wang
Shao-bo Li
Yu-qin Liu
Yu-min Li
Hong-Hong Jia
author_sort Zi-chen Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Diabetes and its complications have emerged as a significant health threat to rural residents. Accurately perceiving the risk of complications may play a crucial role in modifying health behaviors and preventing complications’ occurrence. We aimed to explore the barriers to and facilitators of risk perception of complications in rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to provide new perspectives and ideas for the development of relevant interventions in the future. Methods This study adopted the qualitative content analysis method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 rural diabetic patients selected by purposive sampling from July to September 2023, and the interview data were systematically analyzed. Results Data analysis identified 9 sub-themes falling into the 2 macro-themes: (a) facilitators of complications risk perception (Increased disease knowledge, Low sense of disease control, Risk experiences, Negative mindset); (b) barriers to complications risk perception (Lack of awareness of diabetes or its complications, Information barriers, Optimistic bias, Overconfidence, Disease generalization). Conclusions This study explored the barriers and facilitators of complication risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, offering new insights into risk perception research, and aiding primary medical staff to develop targeted intervention measures to ensure that rural diabetes patients can accurately and objectively perceive risk.
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spelling doaj-art-46f9f7e7deba4157a5c1bc09dfb66e7d2025-08-20T02:48:57ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-03-012511910.1186/s12889-025-22299-xBarriers and facilitators of complications risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative content analysisZi-chen Zhang0Xiao-wei Wang1Shao-bo Li2Yu-qin Liu3Yu-min Li4Hong-Hong Jia5Department of Nursing, Harbin Medical University (Daqing)Department of Cardiology, Daqing People’s HospitalDepartment of Nursing, Harbin Medical University (Daqing)Department of Nursing, Harbin Medical University (Daqing)Department of Nursing, Harbin Medical University (Daqing)Department of Nursing, Harbin Medical University (Daqing)Abstract Background Diabetes and its complications have emerged as a significant health threat to rural residents. Accurately perceiving the risk of complications may play a crucial role in modifying health behaviors and preventing complications’ occurrence. We aimed to explore the barriers to and facilitators of risk perception of complications in rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to provide new perspectives and ideas for the development of relevant interventions in the future. Methods This study adopted the qualitative content analysis method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 rural diabetic patients selected by purposive sampling from July to September 2023, and the interview data were systematically analyzed. Results Data analysis identified 9 sub-themes falling into the 2 macro-themes: (a) facilitators of complications risk perception (Increased disease knowledge, Low sense of disease control, Risk experiences, Negative mindset); (b) barriers to complications risk perception (Lack of awareness of diabetes or its complications, Information barriers, Optimistic bias, Overconfidence, Disease generalization). Conclusions This study explored the barriers and facilitators of complication risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, offering new insights into risk perception research, and aiding primary medical staff to develop targeted intervention measures to ensure that rural diabetes patients can accurately and objectively perceive risk.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22299-xRisk perceptionDiabetes complicationsType 2 diabetes mellitusRuralQualitative study
spellingShingle Zi-chen Zhang
Xiao-wei Wang
Shao-bo Li
Yu-qin Liu
Yu-min Li
Hong-Hong Jia
Barriers and facilitators of complications risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative content analysis
BMC Public Health
Risk perception
Diabetes complications
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Rural
Qualitative study
title Barriers and facilitators of complications risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative content analysis
title_full Barriers and facilitators of complications risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative content analysis
title_fullStr Barriers and facilitators of complications risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative content analysis
title_full_unstemmed Barriers and facilitators of complications risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative content analysis
title_short Barriers and facilitators of complications risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative content analysis
title_sort barriers and facilitators of complications risk perception among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus a qualitative content analysis
topic Risk perception
Diabetes complications
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Rural
Qualitative study
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22299-x
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