A qualitative study on the influencing factors of therapeutic inertia behavior in patients with type 2 diabetes in the cold region of Northeast China

Background Diabetes, as a chronic metabolic disease that poses a serious threat to human health, has been identified by the WHO and China as one of the four major non-communicable diseases.In 2023, there were approximately 233 million diabetes patients in China, with a prevalence rate of 13.7%, an increase of nearly 50% compared to 2005.In China, the standardized mortality rate caused by diabetes is the highest in Northeast China, with Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Jilin ranking the top three.This study aims to explore the inner experiences of therapeutic inertia behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes in the cold Northeast region, identify the key influencing factors, and provide references for targeted intervention measures. Method A phenomenological research design was adopted to explore the internal experience of therapeutic inertia for type 2 diabetes in the cold regions of Northeast China. From March 2024 to May 2024, 12 patients with type 2 diabetes were selected in Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province, China. The seven steps of Colaizzi's phenomenology were used to analyze interview data and generate topics. Results Three themes emerged : "Low self-management ability", "insufficient self-motivation", and "Insufficient external support". Conclusion Patients with type 2 diabetes in the cold regions of Northeast China have obvious therapeutic inertia behaviors. Healthcare professionals should start from the psychological and social perspectives, adopt comprehensive intervention measures, improve the treatment compliance of patients, control blood sugar, reduce the risk of complications, and improve the quality of life of patients.