Abstract
The patient's situation and influence in the health care system has attracted increasing attention in recent years in Sweden, as in other countries. As from 1 January 1999, the Swedish Health Care Act was amended to strengthen the patient's position. The aim of the study was to describe and analyse how individuals with diabetes reflect upon the patient role and its possibilities in a study circle. A qualitative method has been used in the analysis of focused group interviews. The study indicates that the study circle model is one of several ways of stimulating diabetes patients' ability to learn and develop. By self-education, the members of the study circle have experienced increased awareness, knowledge and self- confidence, which made them more active in their meeting with the health service. The study provides new perspectives of diabetes patient's caring role and the content and importance of patient education. The conditions exist for deeper collaboration between the diabetic association and its members as consumers of health care on the one hand and representatives of the health service on the other in connection with education and improvement of the quality of health care.