Evaluation of Self-Care and its Association with Quality of Life in  Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Masoumeh  Gholizadeh; Somayeh  Heydari; Nazanin Mir; Havjin  Taghipour; Nasser   Hatamzadeh; Habib  Jalilian

doi:10.18502/jebhpme.v6i1.9025

Masoumeh Gholizadeh Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Somayeh Heydari Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Nazanin Mir Student Research Committee, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Havjin Taghipour Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Nasser Hatamzadeh Department of Health Education & Health Promotion, School of Health, Ahvaz Jondishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Habib Jalilian Department of Health Services Management, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jebhpme.v6i1.9025

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Self-care, Self-management, Quality of life

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a chronic illness which requires continuous self-care. Appropriate self-care can reduce the risks of developing complications and improve the Quality of Life (QoL). This study aimed to examine self-care and its association with quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in East Azerbaijan, Iran, in 2018.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The statistical population included all patients with type 2 diabetes in East Azerbaijan, in 2018. 310 patients were included using consecutive sampling. The summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire (SDSCA) and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-12) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS₂₂. Descriptive statistics such as mean, Standard Deviation (SD), frequency, and percentage were applied to describe the characteristics of the respondents. The Spearman correlation, Mann Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were applied for statistical analysis.

Results: The mean scores of self-care and QoL were estimated to be 42.14 ± 61.63 and 53.25 ± 51.73, respectively. The highest mean of self-care and QoL was related to medications and social functioning which were 96.03 and 68.34. There was no correlation between the total mean score of self-care and QoL (P-value = 0.65). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between medication (insulin), exercise, blood-glucose testing and the total score of QoL (P-value < 0 .05).

Conclusion: The results indicated that self-care in patients with diabetes is poor, and the patients’ QoL is moderate. Therefore, it is suggested that managers of health centres take appropriate measures such as educational programs and executive interventions to enhance self-care in patients with diabetes. Moreover, to increase QoL, more attention should be paid to promote exercise and diet behaviours.