Table 2 Focus group guide
Guide | Descriptions |
|---|---|
1. Introduction to the Focus Group | Welcome to our focus group session. This meeting is part of our research study exploring the treatment burden experiences of people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in primary care settings in China. T2DM is a prevalent condition globally, affecting a significant portion of the adult population. It involves a range of treatment and management tasks, leading to a substantial treatment burden that can impact various aspects of patients' lives, including their behavioural, cognitive, physical, and psychosocial health. Objective of the Focus Group Our focus today is to understand your experiences and challenges in the T2DM treatment. This includes the efforts you make to adhere to treatments and how these tasks affect your daily life. We aim to discuss the components involved in the treatment burden of T2DM and how it influences you. Demographic Information In this study, we aim to gather demographic information from participants in a manner that respects anonymity. This includes details such as gender, age group, duration of T2DM diagnosis in years, duration of follow-up visits in years, and location. This data will help us assess the representativeness of our sample relative to the broader population of individuals with T2DM. |
2. Structure of the Session | The session will last approximately 90Â min. We will present a series of questions related to your experiences with treatment burden of T2DM. You are encouraged to share your thoughts on each question, but you are not obligated to answer every question if you do not feel comfortable. There will be opportunities for open discussion, where you can interact with other participants and share your views. We would like to clarify that our aim is not to judge your responses. Our researchers will adopt a neutral, non-participatory role in the discussions. We will avoid interrupting your discussion or responding directly to any queries. |
3. Guidelines for Participation | Confidentiality: Please be assured that your identity and responses will remain confidential. The information you share will be used solely for research purposes. Open Communication: We encourage open and honest communication. Feel free to express your thoughts and experiences without any hesitation. Respectful Interaction: Please be respectful of others' opinions and experiences. We value diverse perspectives and aim to foster a supportive environment. Voluntary Participation: Participation is entirely voluntary. You are free to withdraw at any point without any consequences. |
4. Question Displayed: | The research question will be displayed on a screen throughout the focus group session for reference. Primary research question: " What are the characteristics of treatment burden experienced by people with T2DM in primary care settings?" Questions and Probes: (1) Characteristics of experienced Treatment Burden "What characteristics do you experience as part of your treatment burden in daily treatment of T2DM?" Probes: Can you identify specific aspects of your T2DM treatment that you find particularly burdensome? This could include components related to: Â-Financial Burden -ÂMedications Â-Administrative Tasks & Monitoring Â-Lifestyle Changes Â-Healthcare & Reimbursement System Â-Time & Travel Burden Â-Medical Information Â-etc. (2) Factors associated with Treatment Burden "From your perspective, what factors contribute to or are influenced by the burden of T2DM treatment?" Probes: Are there any Antecedents or Consequences of T2DM treatment burden? This might include components related to: -living with T2DM that either facilitate or impede your ability to manage T2DM treatment effectively, such as people or disease characteristics -health outcomes, such as adherence to treatment, health status, wellbeing, quality of life, interpersonal and social challenges |