Relationship between person's health beliefs and diabetes self-care management regimen

Abstract

To examine the relationship between the health beliefs of Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and their adherence to daily diabetes self-care management regimen. A secondary aim was to examine the health beliefs of adults with a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and participants without a DFU. Descriptive correlational design with a convenience sample of 30 participants. Participants were recruited for this pilot study from an outpatient clinic at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. The participants completed self-reported questionnaires about their health beliefs, daily diabetes self-care management regimen, and demographic characteristics. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test the interaction effects. Participants who reported having a high internal health locus of control (IHLoC) and a high level of self-efficacy (SE) adhered well to their foot care regimen (P=.038). The more the participants believed that God controls their health, and the higher their SE, the greater the participant's adherence to their medication regimen (P=.035). The stronger the participant's belief that following their diabetes treatment regimen will lead to good outcomes, the greater the participant's adherence to their dietary regimen for those with a low IHLoC (P=.015). Participants with a high SE and reported that their doctor is able to help them control their diabetes were more likely to follow their dietary regimen (P=.048). Participants with a DFU reported having additional health conditions besides T2DM (P=.018) and had less than a college education (P=.015). Although participants with a DFU reported that they were responsible for their diabetes (P=.21), they stated that God manages their diabetes (P=.29), and the disease can be controlled based on luck (P=.10). Participants' beliefs were found to influence their daily self-care management regimen. Further studies are needed using a larger sample.