Abstract
To characterize the uncertainty in illness and the motivation for treatment and to evaluate the existing relation between these variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Descriptive, correlational study, using a sample of 62 individuals in diabetes consultation sessions. The Uncertainty Stress Scale and the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire were used. The individuals with type 2 diabetes present low levels of uncertainty in illness and a high motivation for treatment, with a stronger intrinsic than extrinsic motivation. A negative correlation was verified between the uncertainty in the face of the prognosis and treatment and the intrinsic motivation. These individuals are already adapted, acting according to the meanings they attribute to illness. Uncertainty can function as a threat, intervening negatively in the attribution of meaning to the events related to illness and in the process of adaptation and motivation to adhere to treatment. Intrinsic motivation seems to be essential to adhere to treatment.
Highlights
Health systems have to face numerous problems
The instrument was administered in a sample of individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, considering the pre-determined criteria of including patients that came to diabetology appointments at Health Centers of the cities Pombal and Figueira Foz, Portugal, between February 9th and April 2nd 2004, who had agreed to participate in the study
Results reveal that most patients show a low degree of illness uncertainty
Summary
Health systems have to face numerous problems. One of them is treatment abandonment or incorrect compliance by patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes. Leventhal’s Model of Behavior Self-Regulation provides a theoretical construction/explanation that helps to understand the factors influencing one’s perceptions regarding illness threats, the association between those perceptions, the descriptions of selfreported illness symptoms, and how personal beliefs influences one’s self-care behavior and drives one to either promote or ignore illness threats According to this model, there are two active processes in the illness: cognition, which refers to the objective interpretation of illness threat; and emotion, which is the subjective reaction to a threat. Individuals end up assigning a value to those perceptions that makes them believe or not in the efficacy of the actions that lead to the improvement of their health Based on these beliefs, it is possible to predict different health-associated behaviors, at the level of either illness prevention or health promotion[11]. The present study had the following purposes: to describe the characteristics of illness uncertainty and treatment motivation in type 2 diabetes patients who were attended at two Health Centers in the Central Region of Portugal; and to analyze the relationship between illness uncertainty and treatment motivation in those patients
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