Abstract
Background: Patients who have diabetes and require hyperbaric treatment for wound
healing are an increasing population. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) has been
shown to reduce a patient’s blood glucose level during an individual treatment. Anecdotal
evidence suggests patients with diabetes are concerned about suffering a hypoglycaemic
episode during HBOT. It is suspected that patients who have diabetes undertake protective
health behaviours by intentionally increasing their blood glucose levels prior to
HBOT.
Aim: To explore the emotional and physical experiences of patient self-management
behaviours of their blood glucose levels during a course of hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
Method: The use of semi-structured in-depth interviews, each interview was audio recorded
and transcribed verbatim. Participants (n = 15), were prior patients living with diabetes
who had undergone HBOT at a tertiary hospital in an Australian state during 2014–2017.
Interpretive description along with thematic analysis of all interviews was undertaken.
Findings: Four themes emerged from the interviews, each deriving from the participants’
experiences 1.Varying recognition of self-management requirement of diabetes; 2. Hypoglycaemia fear; 3. Treatment-based adaptation; and 4. Ownership / monitoring. Participants reported that they altered their diabetic regime/blood glucose management
to undertake a course of HBOT.
Discussion: Patient engagement throughout HBOT, leads them to elevate their blood
glucose, although not advocated, to above normal levels, adopting these behavioural
changes as a self-protective mechanism.
Conclusion: Improving the patient experience of hyperbaric oxygen treatment is multifactorial
and often dependant on the relationship between the clinician and the patient. Consistent
monitoring of blood glucose during HBOT, may ameliorate negative feelings that are
often associated with this treatment option.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 27, 2018
Accepted:
November 18,
2018
Received in revised form:
September 16,
2018
Received:
August 1,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Australian College of Nursing Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
