DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT BEHAVIORS AND INFLUENCING FACTORS AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES IN POST COVID-19 PANDEMIC WENZHOU, CHINA

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate diabetes self-management behaviors among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in post-pandemic Wenzhou, China, and to examine potential predictors including health literacy for chronic disease, perceived diabetes self-efficacy, and social support. Individual and family self-management theory guided this study. This study recruited 109 participants through purposive sampling from the diabetes outpatient department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. Researchers collected demographic and health data using standardized questionnaires. The study employed four validated instruments: the Diabetes Self-Management Behavior Scale (α=.681), Health Literacy Management Scale for Chronic Diseases (α=.95), Diabetes Self-efficacy Scale (α=.908), and Social Support Rating Scale (α=.785). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression.

The result showed elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in post-pandemic Wenzhou demonstrated poor diabetes self-management behaviors (M=34.53, SD=9.65). Diabetes self-efficacy emerged as a significant predictor of self-management behaviors (β=.837, p

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