Self-Care Behavior, Self-Efficacy and Quality of Life of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract

Background: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) has an impact on the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of diabetic patients. The resulting impact affects the discipline of people with diabetes in engaging in adequate self-care. The majority of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Kendari City still show non-adherence to diabetes self-care. This study aimed to determine self-care behavior and its relationship with self-efficacy, quality of life, and glycemic control in T2DM patients with DPN symptoms.

Methods: This quantitative study was conducted with a cross-sectional approach, involving a sample of 118 T2DM patients with DPN symptoms. The consecutive sampling technique was used to collect samples from nine health centers in Kendari City. The chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between characteristics, and Spearman's correlation test with 95% confidence interval was used to analyze the relationship between self-efficacy, quality of life, glycemic control, and self-care behavior.

Results: Most patients (59%) reported having poor self-care behavior (below the median), low self-efficacy (45%) and impaired quality of life (48%) with values below the mean while as many as 47.5% have HbA1c values above the median. Median value of self-care behavior was 62.47 (26-110). The mean self-efficacy and quality of life scores were 95.87±16.34, and 105.93±18.75, respectively, and the median HbA1c value was 9.5 (6.5-15.0). A positive correlation was found between self-efficacy (p=0.000; r=0.662), quality of life (p=0.003; r=0.270), and a negative correlation of glycemic control (HbA1c) (p=0.000; r=-0.732) with diabetes self-care behavior.

Conclusion: The self-care behaviors of T2DM patients with NPD symptoms were mostly poor. Self-efficacy, quality of life, and glycemic control were related to diabetes self-care behavior. Appropriate, easily accessible, and sustainable program support is needed from policymakers to improve self-care behavior and self-efficacy, which can improve glycemic control and the quality of life of T2DM patients with NPD symptoms. WC 300

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, self-efficacy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, self-care behavior