Teachable moments and type 2 diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Teachable moments: Potential for behaviour change among people at high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes
IRAS ID
217153
Contact name
Elena Dimova
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Stirling
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 15 days
Research summary
The project is based on the idea that there are naturally occurring events in people’s lives, such as illness diagnosis, which may increase people’s motivation to engage in protective health behaviours. These events are referred to as “teachable moments” because they provide an opportunity for intervening and facilitating behaviour change. The concept of the teachable moment has intuitive potential but it remains under theorised. The aim of this project is to conceptually develop the concept of the teachable moment by applying it to the field of type 2 diabetes. The relatives and partners of patients with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of developing the condition, due to the genetic and environmental causes of type 2 diabetes. The diagnosis may serve as a teachable moment during which the relatives of the patient increase their perception of risk and review their current behaviour. The literature in the field of cancer suggests that when someone is diagnosed with cancer, their family members may change behaviour in an effort to reduce their own risk of developing cancer. However, it is not clear if this is the case for type 2 diabetes. This project will explore the contextual and cognitive factors that may predict whether or not the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is a teachable moment for patients and their relatives. This will be done by asking patients and their family members to complete a questionnaire.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0043
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion