Methods
A qualitative approach was chosen to address the complex
issues of GDM self-management. This approach
was informed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
(IPA), as endorsed by Smith and Osborn [31] and
Chan et al. [32]. Interpretative phenomenology aims to
explore participants’ lived experience of events in order
to understand how they make sense of their personal
and social worlds (p. 3, 31). The main emphasis is on
the exploration of personal experience as the individual
narrates his/her account and appraises events [31,32].
This narrative approach also draws on the philosopher
Kierkegaard’s [33] insights into the discourses that
underpin the lived experience of the narrator in certain
situations. Kierkegaard believed that the individual’s
stories offered an opportunity for others to see what the
storyteller noticed, and to become aware of the particular
emphasis he/she accorded to events, including the
items that were a concern for him/her [33]. This approach
is considered appropriate in this study as it may
help uncover the particular concerns and difficulties participants
encountered, when self-managing their GDM.
The approach is also consistent with an appreciation of
the individual woman, which was an important consideration
for this study.
Semi structured interviews and one focus group were
conducted using a pre-determined set of questions, as
below. These questions were intended to loosely guide
the interview. A parallel paper, from this study, has
reported on the women’s experiences of GDM [34]. This
paper reports on the factors that facilitated or hindered
the women’s GDM self-management. The study was
approved by the Western Health Ethics Committee
(Sunshine Hospital). Written consent was obtained prior
to interviews and focus group. Pseudonyms were used
throughout to ensure the women’s anonymity.
Questions for interview
1. Can you tell me a little about your experience of
Gestational Diabetes?
2. Can you tell me a little about the information you
received?
3. What other information would you have liked?
4. What made it difficult for you to manage your
gestational diabetes?
5. What made it easy for you to manage your
gestational diabetes?
6. What management strategies (ways of dealing with
your diabetes) worked for you?
7. What advice would you give to someone who was
newly diagnosed with GDM
8. What information do you know now, that would
have been helpful at the beginning?