Cited by 54Diabetes Management and EducationHealth and Conflict StudiesDiabetes Management and Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 48 of the 49 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Diabetes care in a complex humanitarian emergency setting: a qualitative evaluation

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evidence is urgently needed from complex emergency settings to support efforts to respond to the increasing burden of diabetes mellitus (DM). We conducted a qualitative study of a new model of DM health care (Integrated Diabetic Clinic within an Outpatient Department [IDC-OPD]) implemented by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Mweso Hospital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We aimed to explore patient and provider perspectives on the model in order to identify factors that may support or impede it. METHODS: We used focus group discussions (FGDs; two discussions, each with eight participants) and individual semi-structured qualitative interviews (seven patients and 10 staff) to explore experience of and perspectives on the IDC-OPD. Participants were recruited purposively to represent a range of DM disease severity and staff functions respectively, and to ensure the age and gender distribution was representative of the population of DM patients registered in the clinic. Data were coded in NVivo10© and analysed using an inductive thematic approach. RESULTS: There appears to be little awareness surrounding DM in patient communities, resulting in delays presenting to hospital. Patients describe their first reactions to symptoms as fear and confusion, often assuming symptoms are of another disease (e.g. HIV/AIDS). They often express disbelief that they could have DM (e.g. stating DM is a 'rich man's disease') and lack acceptance that there is no cure. Patients experienced difficulty travelling to appointments, exacerbated by flare-ups in the conflict. Providing psycho-social and sensitisation activities in a group setting appears to offer an opportunity for patients to support each other in their effort to adhere to drug treatment and follow-up appointments. All patients reported great difficulty in adhering to the recommended diet, which was viewed as unaffordable and unavailable, and fear that this would be the biggest obstacle to maintaining their drug treatment (as treatment must be taken with food). CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the importance of community awareness of DM and the value of treatment support, including psychosocial and educational support to DM patients and their families, and culturally sensitive, low-cost dietary advice, to ensuring the adoption and maintenance of DM treatment.

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Crossref · 10.1186/s12913-017-2362-5

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  • Complicated multi-faceted intervention demands and fragmented, contradictory clinical guidance create widespread complexity barriers disrupting sustained diabetic dietary self-management, with distinct burdens observed in both high-income (HIC) and low- and middle-income (LMIC) populations.

    “Complicated multi-faceted intervention demands and fragmented, contradictory clinical guidance create widespread complexity barriers disrupting sustained diabetic dietary self-management, with distinct burdens observed in both high-income (HIC) and low- and middle-income (LMIC) populations (40, 43, 70, 94).”

    From Implementation and translation of evidence-based dietary strategies for type 2 diabetes in resource-limited settings: a scoping review based on the CFIR framework (2026) · cites this paper as [70]

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  • In conflict-affected Democratic Republic of the Congo, standard universal diabetes guidelines bring severe practical complexity to local patients.

    “In conflict-affected Democratic Republic of the Congo, standard universal diabetes guidelines bring severe practical complexity to local patients.”

    From Implementation and translation of evidence-based dietary strategies for type 2 diabetes in resource-limited settings: a scoping review based on the CFIR framework (2026) · cites this paper as [70]

    The Results section reports that patients in conflict-affected eastern DRC had great difficulty following the clinic’s recommended diabetes diet because the foods were unaffordable or unavailable. The Conclusion calls for attention to the appropriateness of dietary guidelines. The paper does not identify those recommendations as standard universal diabetes guidelines or attribute the broader difficulties of diabetes care specifically to such guidelines. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • In conflict-affected Democratic Republic of the Congo, widespread community misconceptions frame diabetes as a curable disease exclusive to wealthy groups, leading most residents to prioritise traditional healers over the complicated long-term chronic self-management regimens promoted by medical staff.

    “Furthermore, widespread community misconceptions frame diabetes as a curable disease exclusive to wealthy groups, leading most residents to prioritise traditional healers over the complicated long-term chronic self-management regimens promoted by medical staff (70).”

    From Implementation and translation of evidence-based dietary strategies for type 2 diabetes in resource-limited settings: a scoping review based on the CFIR framework (2026) · cites this paper as [70]

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

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  • Healthcare system dependency on MSF support and lack of local health department ownership and sustained investment raise concerns about project sustainability.

    “Healthcare system dependency: reliance on MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) support; the local health department lacks ownership and sustained investment, raising concerns about project sustainability(p7-p8) (70)”
  • In conflict-affected Democratic Republic of the Congo, frequent food scarcity creates a vicious cycle where individuals skip prescribed medicines due to insufficient nutritional intake.

    “Frequent food scarcity creates a vicious cycle where individuals skip prescribed medicines due to insufficient nutritional intake.”

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Citations

Cites

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1 of the 49 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Africa members: the Democratic Republic of Congo. Brussels: International Diabetes Federation; 2015.
  2. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Democratic Republic of Congo scorecard. Brussels: International Diabetes Federation; 2013.
  3. Perez-Sales P, Fernandez-Liria A, Baingana F, Ventevogal P. Integrating mental health into existing systems of care during and after complex humanitarian emergencies: rethinking the experience. Intervention. 9(3):345–57.

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Metadata

Authors
Murphy, A., Biringanine, M., Roberts, B., Stringer, B., Perel, P., & Jobanputra, K.
Affiliations
  • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
  • Médecins Sans Frontières‎ (GB)
Corresponding author
Murphy, Adrianna
Venue
BMC Health Services Research
Published
2017-06-23
Volume
17
Issue
1
Pages
431-431
ISSN
1472-6963 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2646296278
Cited by
54
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3
FWCI
1.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • BMC Health Services Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Medecins Sans Frontieres Field Research (Medecins Sans Frontieres) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Médecins Sans Frontières
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Education
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Conflict Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
Keywords
diabetes mellitus, humanitarian crisis, Médecins Sans Frontières, patient perspectives, provider perspectives, delayed presentation, medication adherence, psychosocial support, dietary recommendations, armed conflict, community awareness, Democratic Republic of the Congo
MeSH terms
Diet, Healthy, Assessment of Medication Adherence, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Altruism, Ambulatory Care, Delivery of Health Care, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Emergency Treatment, Family Relations, Female, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Patient Compliance, Travel, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Program Evaluation, Drug Monitoring, Focus Groups, Qualitative Research, Medication Adherence, Young Adult

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