The Lived Spirituality Experiences of Adult Diabetes Patients in Adhering to Treatment

Authors

• Dwight Mahaputera Marulitua Hutapea, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan, IndonesiaFollow

Abstract

This descriptive phenomenological study explored the lived spirituality experiences of adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in adhering to treatment. Prior research has indicated that spirituality may influence attitudes toward and adherence to chronic disease management; however, empirical evidence addressing the spiritual dimension among people with diabetes remains limited. Guided by Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological method, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 purposively selected participants, equally distributed among Christians and Muslims. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to rigorous phenomenological analysis. Seven themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) spirituality strengthens relationships; (b) spirituality affects choices and outcomes; (c) valuing spirituality in treatment adherence; (d) treatment adherence as obedience; (e) motivation for treatment adherence; (f) challenges to treatment adherence; and (g) support for treatment adherence by health providers. The findings reveal that spirituality functions as an essential coping mechanism and motivational force that enhances adherence to diabetes treatment. These insights carry practical implications for nursing practice, education, and research—particularly in developing culturally sensitive and spiritually informed interventions to improve treatment adherence among individuals living with chronic illnesses.

Keywords

spirituality, treatment adherence, descriptive phenomenology, Colaizzi’s method, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, nursing practice

Author Bio(s)

Dwight Mahaputera Marulitua Hutapea, S.Kep,Ners, MNS, Ph.D. is a full-time nursing lecturer and currently serves as the Chairperson for the Master in Nursing Science program. With over nine years of experience in nursing education, Dwight began his academic journey by completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, followed by a Master’s degree in Nursing Science from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, in 2016. After earning his master's degree, he worked as a full-time lecturer for two years before pursuing his doctoral studies at Silliman University. His academic and professional interests focus on nursing education, leadership, and advanced clinical practice. Please direct correspondence to [email protected] / [email protected]

Acknowledgements

The author would like to express sincere gratitude to all individuals and institutions whose support and encouragement contributed to the successful completion of this research. Special appreciation is extended to the faculty members and colleagues of the Master in Nursing Science Program for their valuable insights and continuous motivation. Lastly, heartfelt thanks are given to family, friends, and all those who have offered unwavering moral and emotional support during the research process.

Publication Date

8-31-2026

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Recommended APA Citation

Hutapea, D. M. M. Hutapea. (2026). The lived spirituality experiences of adult diabetes patients in adhering to treatment. The Qualitative Report, 31(8), 6536-6558.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-2768-9384