Type 2 Diabetes and Lifestyle Discussions With Practice Nurses in Primary Health Care: A Scoping Review of Patient Experiences

Type 2 Diabetes and Lifestyle Discussions With Practice Nurses in Primary Health Care: A Scoping Review of Patient Experiences

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the global perceptions of people with type 2 diabetes regarding lifestyle communication in practice nurse consultations within primary health care settings. Design: A scoping review of the peer-reviewed published literature was conducted to identify and examine the characteristics of the experiences of people living with type 2 diabetes during a practice nurse consultation, where lifestyle management is discussed. The PRISMA-ScR checklist guided the review, and CASP guidelines were used to appraise the quality of the included studies. Methods: CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO and Scopus were searched for papers published between January 2010 and May 2025. Studies were included if they described primary research regarding lifestyle discussion experiences that people living with type 2 diabetes have with practice nurses in the primary care setting. Results: From the 409 papers identified, 10 met the inclusion criteria. Key themes included the importance of unrushed consultations, the supportive yet sometimes unclear role of practice nurses, challenges in managing diabetes, the need for personalised lifestyle advice, clear explanations of health markers and varied motivations for lifestyle changes.
Conclusion: While practice nurses are trusted and valued, significant gaps exist in meeting the needs of people with type 2 diabetes. Comprehensive lifestyle management discussions, detailed dietary information and clear explanations of diabetic-specific serology are lacking. Enhancing training, increasing consultation time, involving family members and exploring eHealth solutions are crucial. Further research on brief behaviour change interventions is needed to support informed decisions and improve care quality.