Abstract
With the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) globally, including in Nigeria, self-care practices are universally recognized as imperative to keeping the illness under control and preventing complications. It is important to determine how competent patients feel about managing their diabetes; as well as their psychosocial adjustment. Self-efficacy measures these important aspects of diabetes care and act as a guide to health professionals on how best to tailor diabetes education and support. There is a dearth of studies on self-efficacy and associated influences, among people living with diabetes in Nigeria. Hence, this study was carried out to fill the lacunae. This descriptive study was carried out at the Out-patient Clinic of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, among 235 people receiving treatment for diabetes. A total sampling of all available patients who provided consent at the time of data collection was done. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire consisting of a section on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics including fasting blood glucose; followed by a section on diabetes self-efficacy. Diabetes self-efficacy was measured using the validated and adapted Michigan Diabetes Empowerment scale (DES). Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Ibadan/University College Hospital Institutional Review Board (UI/UCH IRB). Data were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 20. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean, independent t-test and Pearson’s correlation at α 0.05. Participants were predominantly women (60.9%) and had a mean age of 59.3 ± 14.0 years. More than half of the participants (55%) had a high self-efficacy level. Educational level and having a family member who is a nurse or a doctor were significantly associated with high self-efficacy. Fasting blood glucose level was negatively correlated with self-efficacy and the domain of managing the psychological aspect of diabetes. A good percentage of people living with diabetes had high self-efficacy, which was influenced by educational level and having a health professional as a relative. Those with high self-efficacy had better glucose control. It is recommended that individually-tailored diabetes education be provided for people with poorly controlled glucose level.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) was termed ‘the fastest growing global health emergency’ by the International Diabetes Federation, in 2019 [1]
The federation further stated that the 463 million cases reported globally in 2019 were expected to increase by 51% in 2045; with a much higher increase of 143% expected in Africa
This study adopted a cross-sectional research design. It was conducted at the diabetes clinic of the medical outpatient unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) was termed ‘the fastest growing global health emergency’ by the International Diabetes Federation, in 2019 [1]. Diabetes self-care activities are behaviors undertaken by people with diabetes to successfully manage the disease on their own [3] These activities include self-monitoring blood glucose, making healthy lifestyle choices (healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco cessation and weight management, taking and managing medications, preventing diabetes complications (self-monitoring of foot health; active participation in screening for eye, foot, and renal complications; and immunizations), and setting self-selected behavioural goals [4]. It has been established in the literature that many benefits result for patients and even health care personnel when patients are well involved in their own care [5], [6]. Self-care practices in people living with diabetes are essential to keeping the illness under control and forestalling complications [3]
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