Predictive factors of self-management behaviors in patients with diabetes

Purpose: The research aimed to investigate factors predicting self-management in Patients with Type
II Diabetes. The study factors included self-efficacy, health perception, patient-provider communication
and stage of change for behaviors.
Design: Correlational predictive design.
Methods: The study sample consisted of 144 patients with type II diabetes without any other
complications at NCD clinic and outpatient departments from two community hospitals. A convenience
sampling was used for the recruitment. Data were collected using a set of questionnaires including
demographic information, health perception, self-efficacy, patient-provider communication, stage of change
for behaviors, and self-management questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis
were used for data analysis.
Main findings: The findings showed that an average age of patients with type II diabetes was 62.49 years
(SD = 10.91) and their average years of disease duration was 9.03 years. The scores of self-management
behavior ( = 85.67, SD = 10.71), health perception( = 67.41, SD = 5.23), self-efficacy ( = 201.79, SD = 30.45),
patient-provider communication( = 85.71, SD = 6.63) and stage of change for behaviors ( = 25.71, SD = 3.40)
were at high level. The stage of change for behaviors is the only predictor of self-management behaviors
in patients with type II diabetes (β = .69, t = 10.69, p < .01); while 53% of the variation in self-management
behaviors could be explained by the set of study variables (adjusted R2
= .53)
Conclusion and recommendations: The level stage of change for behavior influences self-management
behaviors of patients with type II diabetes. Therefore, nurses and health personnel should assess the readiness
for behavior change. Then assistance that is tailored to their readiness for behavior change should be provided
so that they would be able to establish and maintain self-management behavior appropriately and continuously.