Researchers in Nursing participate in a European project for self-care for diabetes mellitus subject 2

Researchers from the School de Enfermería participating in the study. PHOTO: Manuel Castells

The School of Nursing of the University of Navarra is part of a European project that aims to develop new formulas for self-care against diabetes mellitus subject 2, an ailment linked to unhealthy lifestyle habits that affects 13.8% of the Spanish population and 5.5% of Navarrese people.

The study, included in the seventh European Program framework , has a funding of 2.9 million euros and six countries and seven centers of research will participate in it for four years. In the case of the School de Enfermería, the PhDs in Nursing Mª Carmen Portillo, Agurtzane Mujika, Mª Jesús Pumar and Mª Isabel Saracíbar will take part in it.

According to the principal investigator, Dr. Mª Carmen Portillo, the goal of this multicenter work , in which physicians and sociologists also collaborate, "consists of gaining in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms by which the disease is managed in order to develop new self-care strategies that allow sufferers to acquire healthy habits and manage their problem in the face of possible complications".

In this way, it is intended to go a step further in the traditional treatment of diabetes. "The project EU-WISE understands self-care as the attention of each individual to their own health and well-being with actions that lead to a healthy lifestyle, meet their social, emotional and psychological needs, take care of their chronic disease and prevent other ailments or accidents. With this goal the study will focus especially on people with fewer economic and educational resources, both in rural and urban areas," the expert adds.

Community groups and volunteer activities

Through a combined methodology and bibliographic reviews of national and European programs of study , the specialists seek to gain an in-depth understanding of how diabetes self-care and self-management is understood and promoted at different levels in each country. "This will involve work with government representatives, professionals, academics or health commissions; groups from volunteer activities, patient associations, community groups or clubs and, finally, the patients themselves and their social and personal networks (friends, family, pets)," explains Mª Carmen Portillo. This will provide "essential information from the respective countries that will serve as a basis for subsequent interventions".

Although the University of Navarra Nursing School will be involved in all stages of project, it will have a special responsibility in relation to the community groups and organizations of volunteer activities.

In addition to this center, the study involves the Foundation Education Salud y Sociedad, Stichting Katholieke Universiteit RUNMC (Netherlands), University of Crete (Greece), Universitete I Oslo (Norway), University of National and World Economy UNWE (Bulgaria) and University of Manchester (United Kingdom), which is in charge of coordinating the teams.