STUDY IN MEDICAL SPECIALTY UNITS AND THEIR TRAINING IN MEXICO. PERCEIVED QUALITY OF NUTRITIONAL TREATMENT IN DIABETES

Diabetes is a disease of great relevance due to its repercussions on the quality of life of patients, as well as the risk of mortality in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its control is a challenge for governments and health systems in the world. The objective of the article is to assess under a qualitative methodology the perception of patients with type 2 diabetes about the quality of nutritional treatment in units of medical specialties in chronic diseases in Mexico. 46 people participated in the research through focus groups. The discourses were documented, coded and categorized, in which it is executed that people with diabetes are cared for under the prescriptive approach of the hegemonic medical model and interpret their nutritional treatment based on myths and beliefs. They also consider that the main support to achieve nutritional control is God, the family and the health professional. In this sense, training on these issues and the perceived quality of nutritional treatment are also valued, which is influenced by the beliefs, culture and socioeconomic status of the patient. The results showed that patients build their own reality in the face of health events, which allows the design of empowerment strategies tailored to their needs to improve the quality of medical care.