Type 2 diabetes self-management: A narrative theory of health behaviour change

Background: The purpose of this study was to document accounts of health behaviour change for the self- management of type 2 diabetes and explore the contribution of a narrative approach to understanding the implementation of health care recommendations. Method: Thirty-two people who have type 2 diabetes participated in a series of qualitative semi-structured interviews that were subsequently examined using narrative analysis based on the work of (Gergen and Gergen, 1986; Robinson, 1990; Rappaport, 1993). The narrative structure, function and change were examined in relation to participants’ goal or goals. Results: Five narratives of behaviour change for type 2 diabetes self-management were identified: transformative, active self-management, resistance, incapacity and fatalistic. Conclusion: The implications of a narrative theory of change for the explanation of health behaviour and its translation to clinical settings are explored