Storage methods and injection site preferences of patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin regimen in North-East Ethiopia: A qualitative inquiry

Abstract

: Insulin treatment is seriously influenced by the choice of injection site and storage practices. The study looked at the storage mechanisms and injection site preferences of type 2 diabetes patients at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, in Dessie City Administration, North-East Ethiopia. We conducted a qualitative study from July 2019 to January 2020 on twenty-four (11 males and 13 females) participants who were recruited purposefully. Until theoretical saturation was reached, we collected the data through face-to-face, in-depth interviews that lasted about 23 to 71 minutes and organized it using QDA Miner Lite v2.0.9. We then thematically analyzed the transcripts and discussed the themes that arose in detail using narrative strategies. A jar filled with wet sand was the most common handling device for insulin, for both insulin in use and reserves, both at home and on the road. The most popular injection site was the abdomen, followed by the thighs and upper arms. With the container they indicated, it is unclear how the patients store insulin. The dangers of storing insulin at home are often disregarded, and better education is required. Practical advice on how to properly keep insulin at home is also essential.

Keywords:

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Experiences
• Insulin
• Storage
• Injection-Site
• Preferences
• Qualitative Inquiry
• Ethiopia

Public interest statement

Without proper handling, medicines, especially hormonal ones like insulin, could not maintain their ability to heal. This is so because insulin’s strength greatly depends on how well it is protected from unfavorable temperatures, humidity, and light. The manner in which it is administered to the body also has a significant impact on its effectiveness. Hence, this study investigated the storage methods of insulin and the preferred injection sites of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Additional information

No additional information is available for this paper.

Author contribution statement

Ewunetie Mekashaw Bayked conceived and designed the study, conducted the study, analyzed and interpreted the data, contributed materials, analysis tools, or data, and wrote the paper.

Mesfin Haile Kahissay and Birhanu Demeke Workneh conceived and designed the data, conducted the study, and analyzed and interpreted the data.

Acknowledgements

All of the study participants deserve our gratitude for their time, voluntary participation, and information sharing. We would also like to express our gratitude to all of the nurses, general practitioners, and physicians that work at DCSH’s diabetes clinic.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available within the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Ewunetie Mekashaw Bayked

Mesfin Haile Kahissay (PhD) is an assistant professor in social and administrative pharmacy and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University. Throughout his childhood and schooling, and through his working life, he has lived in a social world where indigenous practices are being used by the people in his immediate community. His academic and research interests grow out of his own real-life experiences, and not simply as the result of his role as a biomedical practitioner. His research interests are issues related to the behavioral, social, anthropological, and economical aspects of pharmaceutical care. Courses in which he has been engaged are under the domain of social and administrative pharmacy, such as behavioral and social aspects of pharmacy, pharmaceutical and medical anthropology, pharmaceutical marketing, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmaceutical supply management, pharmaceutical marketing and policy, and pharmaceutical law and ethics.