FACTORS INFLUENCING DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT AMONG BHUTANESE PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Studies among Bhutanese patients with type 2 diabetes have showed alarming high rates of uncontrolled DM. However, information about diabetes self-management among this group of people is non-existential or minimal in Bhutan. The aims of the study were to examine diabetes self-management and to determine if self-efficacy, health literacy, social support and diabetes distress can predict diabetes self-management among Bhutanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 105 patients with T2DM visiting the diabetes clinic of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital were enrolled in the study by simple random sampling method. Six self-administered questionnaires were used to gather data including the demographic data questionnaire, the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ), the Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale, UK version (DMSES-UK), the 3-level of Health Literacy Scale, the Chronic Illness Resource Survey (CIRS), and the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS). Descriptive statistics and standard multiple linear regression were used to analyze data. The results of the study showed that participants’ mean score of diabetes self-management was 7.76 (SD = 1.03) out of 10. The health care use subscale has the highest mean score of 8.73 (SD = 1.60), followed by dietary control (M = 7.76, SD = 1.03), and glucose management (M = 7.59, SD = 1.52). Physical activity subscale (M = 7.02, SD = 2.18) had the lowest mean score among the subscales. Results of the standard multiple linear regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy, health literacy, social support and diabetes distress explained 17.16% in the variance of diabetes self-management among Bhutanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, only self-efficacy could significantly predict diabetes self-management (β = .277, p = .015). The findings provide an evidence for health care providers to develop the interventional program aimed at improving self-efficacy to promote diabetes self-management activities such as glucose management, physical activity and dietary control in Bhutanese patients with T2DM.

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