Factors Associated with Self-Care Behaviors Among Individuals with Diabetes Mellitus in Meishan Township of Chiayi County

• Main Authors: Yi-ya Chang, 張怡雅
• Other Authors: Mei-an Gu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/55108361490775923257

碩士 === 南華大學 === 自然醫學研究所 === 97 === 　　The main objective of the present study is to investigate the self-care behaviors of individuals with diabetes mellitus. The association between self-care behavior and socio-demographic characteristic, disease status, lifestyle, knowledge of disease self-monitoring, and the utilization of medical facilities were evaluated. Participants whose fasting blood glucose level were greater than 126mg/dL and diagnosed to have type 2 diabetes by medical specialists were recruited from health screenings. Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaire were conducted and completed on 97 individuals. The average age of the participants was 67.1 years. 　　 　　Results indicated that in terms of socio-demographic characteristic, females had better self-care behavior (p=0.011); those who were in the middle to high socioeconomic status had better self-care behavior than those who were in the low socioeconomic status (p=0.023); those with no religious affiliation had better self-care behavior than those who had religious affiliation (p=0.049); and those with source of income from other family members or from subsidization for farmers had better self-care behavior than those who received wages from work or those who were depending on retirement pension (p=0.053). In terms of disease status, those who did not take medication had worse self-care behavior than those who did (p<0.001). In terms of lifestyle, those who had the habits of drinking alcohol (p<0.001), smoking (p=0.002), or chewing betel nut (p=0.041) had worse self-care behavior than those who did not. Those who exercised (p<0.001) and participated in group exercise (p=0.012) had better self-care behavior. In terms of knowledge of disease self-monitoring, those who understood fasting blood glucose level (p=0.057) and total cholesterol level (p=0.052), monitored their blood pressure (p=0.001), went for blood glucose test (p<0.001), or collected health information (p<0.001) had better self-care behavior. In terms of utilization of medical facilities, those who sought medical treatment (p<0.001) and those who obtained three-month prescription for their disease had better self-care behavior (p<0.001) 　　 　　Results from multiple stepwise regression indicated that medical utilization behavior, physical activity, health information seeking behavior, smoking, sex, and socioeconomic status were important predictors for self-care behavior. These factors could explain 74.4% of the variances in self-care behavior. 　　 　　It is suggested that the health units should increase interaction with the people in the community and should evaluate their needs for health care. Health units should also help the people in the community to increase the knowledge about their health and to improve their self-care skills.