Enhancing personal capacities in families with or at risk of type 2 diabetes: qualitative investigation of the GO EASY intervention

A family-centered intervention, GO EASY, targeting physical activity and eating habits in families of adults with or at risk of type 2 diabetes and their children, was feasibility tested, but user perspectives have not been reported. To explore how parents and children experienced participating in the GO EASY intervention and its impact on their everyday lives. This study employed a phenomenological-hermeneutical approach, involving nine individual interviews conducted with six parents and three children representing three families (50% of the study sample) at three- and six-month post-baseline, from June to October 2024. A Ricoeur-inspired analysis was conducted using naïve reading, structural analysis, and critical interpretation. The analysis revealed two themes: “The family club is a source of encouragement”, with subthemes “Sharing challenges with peers is valuable” and “Facilitating acceptance and confidence”; and “A helpful intervention for families”, with subthemes “Heading in the same direction” and “Making space for quality family time”. The GO EASY intervention fostered emotionally safe environments for sharing experiences and mutual support. Enhanced motivation and skill development enabled the participants to live more actively and healthily. Beyond the immediate goals, families strengthened their social networks. The intervention fostered a sense of togetherness that boosted participants’ motivation, helped families build skills for healthier daily routines, and broadened their social networks. The findings suggest a positive impact on participants’ capacities, potentially beneficial for health competence and resilience. More rigorous, user-informed research is needed to understand intergenerational dynamics and outcomes in family-centered, community-based health interventions. NCT05694351(ClinicalTrials.gov), Registered January 18, 2023.