Individual, healthcare professional and system-level barriers and facilitators to initiation and adherence to injectable therapies for type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-ethnography

Aims To review and synthesise the contemporary qualitative evidence, relating to the individual, healthcare professional and system-level barriers and facilitators to injectable therapies in people with type 2 diabetes, and evaluate (using an intersectional approach to explore the diverse perspectives of different identities) whether views have changed with treatment and guideline advancements. Methods A meta-ethnography approach used. Eight databases searched from the years 2006 (GLP-1 analogues introduced) to February 2021. Study selection (using a pre-defined inclusion criteria), quality appraisal and data extraction, conducted independently by two reviewers. Results Screened 7143 abstracts, assessed 93 full-text papers for eligibility and included 42 studies-using data from 818 individuals with type 2 diabetes and 160 healthcare professionals. Studies covered a diverse range of views from healthcare professionals and individuals, including those relating to older adults and people from ethnic migrant backgrounds, and 10 studies rated moderate to strong research value. Key themes abstracted: barriers (physical/psychological/social) and facilitators (motivation/capability/opportunity). Conclusions The first synthesis of contemporary qualitative data to adopt an intersectionality approach and explore diverse views relating to barriers and facilitators that influence engagement with injectable treatments for type 2 diabetes. A model is presented to help patients, health practitioners and policy makers identify barriers and facilitators and understand the complex interplay of physical, psychological and social factors involved when prescribing injectable therapies. Despite advances in injectable treatments and guidelines, findings highlight the many barriers that still exist and show how strongly held culturally-specific health beliefs of people from diverse socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds can become substantial obstacles to treatment.