Author: Alanoud Alobaidly
Alobaidly, Alanoud, 2022 The attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of healthcare professionals towards a multidisciplinary team managing people using bariatric surgery as a treatment option for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Flinders University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
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Introduction: Kuwait ranks high in the prevalence of diabetes and obesity worldwide. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent form of diabetes, with bariatric surgery and the adoption of a healthier lifestyle recommended as treatment options. The International Diabetes Federation has recommended a multidisciplinary team approach for the management of people using bariatric surgery as a treatment option for T2DM. Although bariatric surgery is performed in Kuwait, it has yet to be included as a treatment option in the management plans for people with T2DM. Currently, patients in Kuwait experience inefficient diabetes education, absence of patient education for bariatric surgery, and inconsistencies in service delivery. Therefore, the perceptions of healthcare professionals need to be investigated regarding management of patients with T2DM who are eligible for bariatric surgery. Currently, there is limited research on the perceptions of healthcare professionals of multidisciplinary team collaboration for patients using bariatric surgery in T2DM management. Also, limited research that has explored healthcare professionals’ opinions and experiences of working in multidisciplinary teams involved in T2DM management.
Aim: This research project aimed to explore: 1) the perceptions of healthcare professionals towards a multidisciplinary team approach for T2DM, 2) the communication processes occurring between healthcare professionals when managing patients with T2DM and bariatric surgery, and 3) the ways in which healthcare professionals collaborate when managing people using bariatric surgery as a treatment option for T2DM.
Methods: Qualitative interpretive description was the methodology utilised in this study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals, and observations of their consultations with people eligible for bariatric surgery as a treatment option for T2DM. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six steps for qualitative thematic data analysis was used to analyse and interpret the interview and observation data.
Findings: A total of 18 healthcare professionals from different disciplines working at a government hospital in Kuwait participated in this study, in which 17 interviews and six observation sessions were conducted between March and September 2020. Three major themes with their subthemes were identified: 1) barriers to efficient T2DM management with two subthemes ‒ barriers imposed by the organisation, and barriers between healthcare professionals; 2) expectations of healthcare professionals of a multidisciplinary team approach for T2DM management with two subthemes ‒ expectations of healthcare professionals of the organisation and expectations of healthcare professionals of other disciplines; and 3) launch of a multidisciplinary team approach for T2DM management with three subthemes ‒ professional growth, success of a multidisciplinary team and challenges of a multidisciplinary team. These themes showed that while participants perceived numerous advantages to multidisciplinary team management of people with T2DM, several barriers affected the quality of patient care. These barriers were either at the organisational (e.g. hospital staffing) or individual healthcare professional level (e.g. role confusion).
Conclusion: The findings of this research will add to the body of knowledge on a multidisciplinary team approach for T2DM and bariatric surgery in Kuwait. The findings will also provide evidence that may be used to contribute to the development of policy or guidelines to ensure best practice for service delivery in T2DM management in Kuwait. Finally, the findings may help in constructing effective patient education programs for people with T2DM and obesity, as well as their families, that are suited to Kuwaiti culture and beliefs.
Keywords: Qualitative, interpretive description, bariatric surgery, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, multidisciplinary team, nurse-led multidisciplinary team, healthcare professionals, perception
Subject: Public Health thesis
Thesis type: Doctor of Philosophy
Completed: 2022
School: College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Supervisor: Dr Wendy Abigail