Abstract
BackgroundSelf-care practices among persons living with type-2 diabetes are very crucial in diabetes manages as poor self-care results in complications. However, little research exists within the Ghanaian context. This study examined whether type-2 diabetes patients’ illness perception and diabetes knowledge significantly predict diabetes self-care practices.MethodsA cross-sectional survey design was employed and a total of 160 participants (45 males and 115 females) were sampled from a general hospital in Accra. A self-administered questionnaire measuring illness perception, diabetes knowledge and diabetes self-care practices as well as demographic checklist were used collect data.ResultsResults showed that illness perception and diabetes knowledge significantly predicted overall diabetes self-care practices. Analysis of domain specific self-care practices showed that patients’ diet was significantly predicted by illness perception and diabetes knowledge. Exercise was significantly predicted by only illness perception while blood sugar testing and diabetes foot-care were significantly predicted by diabetes knowledge.ConclusionCognitive and emotional representation of diabetes and diabetes knowledge are key determinants of patients’ diabetes self-care practices. It is therefore important that appropriate psychosocial interventions are developed to help patients’ adherence to recommended self-care practices.
Highlights
Self-care practices among persons living with type-2 diabetes are very crucial in diabetes manages as poor self-care results in complications
Illness perception has been identified in some studies as a significant factor that influences self-care practices, psychological distress and other health outcomes among persons living with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [7,8,9]
It was observed that a statistically significant positive relationship exists between diabetes self-care practices and diabetes knowledge (r = .31, p < .001). These results suggest that when patients perceived their illness to be threatening, they engage in less self-care practices but when patients have higher diabetes knowledge, they engage in more diabetes self-care practices
Summary
Self-care practices among persons living with type-2 diabetes are very crucial in diabetes manages as poor self-care results in complications. This study examined whether type-2 diabetes patients’ illness perception and diabetes knowledge significantly predict diabetes selfcare practices. The case is not different in Ghana as a developing country where there is a significant diabetes burden [2]. Effective self-management of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is crucial to reduce the risk of diabetes-specific. Illness perception has been identified in some studies as a significant factor that influences self-care practices, psychological distress and other health outcomes among persons living with T2DM [7,8,9]. The association between illness perception and the health outcomes could be due to the fact that engagement in self-care
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