Nursing Practice Problem:
Practice problems in nursing adversely affect the work environment, increase healthcare costs, and hamper nurses’ productivity, among other effects. The high prevalence of type 2 diabetes among older adults is a significant nursing practice problem due to its regrettable impacts, such as increased patient visits, high healthcare costs, and the high risk for cardiovascular disease (Cigolle et al., 2022; Evans et al., 2022). If not effectively controlled, the increased patient visits could threaten nurses’ health and well-being due to a high workload. According to Kirwan et al. (2021), type 2 diabetes inhibits functional performance and independence among older adults. Therefore, interventions tailored to improve functional capacity and independence and other positive outcomes are crucial for improved health and reduced clinical visits.
Qualitative Article
| Criteria | Peer-Reviewed Translational Article and Permalink/Working Link
Che, S., Meng, M., Jiang, Y., Ye, X., & Xie, C. (2022). Perceptions of exercise and exercise instruction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 892. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03519-0 |
| Methodology
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The researchers conducted a qualitative study using a descriptive phenomenological approach. In phenomenological studies, researchers seek to understand an issue from the participants’ lived experiences (Alhazmi & Kaufmann, 2022). In a similar design, Che et al. (2022) conducted a series of personal semi-structured interviews among the participants to get an in-depth description of the phenomena related to how patients with type 2 diabetes and sarcopenia perceived physical exercises. |
| Goals
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Physical exercises are valuable in helping older adults with type 2 diabetes increase muscle mass and strength. Therefore, the study explored how patients with type 2 diabetes and sarcopenia perceived exercise and exercise instruction from their perspective. Understanding their perceptions would help healthcare providers to understand benefits, tailor physical exercises according to patient needs, and address barriers to participation in such exercises. |
| Data Collection
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Che et al. (2022) invited patients to participate in the interviews, each lasting approximately 15-35 minutes. The patients were adequately informed about the purpose, format, time to be taken, and other essentials to ensure informed consent. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously via an interview guide focusing on four main aspects. The first aspect was knowledge, attitudes, and everyday practices regarding exercise. Questions in this area explored the connection between physical exercises and improving blood glucose and how patients perceived and engaged in them. The second area was attitudes toward exercises, where patients answered whether they believed and accepted that exercises help treat diabetes mellitus. The third area was on practices of exercises to evaluate the type of exercises patients engage in. The second aspect was motivations, and the third aspect was barriers to exercise. The fourth aspect was attitudes toward exercise instruction. |
Quantitative Article
| Criteria | Peer-Reviewed Translational Article and Permalink/Working Link
Kirwan, M., Chiu, C. L., Hay, M., & Laing, T. (2021). Community-Based Exercise and Lifestyle Program Improves Health Outcomes in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(11), 6147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116147 |
| Methodology
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Kirwan et al. (2021) conducted a pre-post evaluation study that compared the outcomes of a program at baseline and at eight weeks after completion. The program (Beat It) was designed to improve critical health aspects among older adults with type 2 diabetes, particularly anthropometric and physical fitness outcomes. Br
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