Self-Care and Related Factors in Young and Middle Adulthood Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: This study was designed to investigate the level of self-care and related factors such as perceived health status, family support, stress related to diabetes mellitus, self-efficacy, depression, situational influence and glycemic control level in young and middle adulthood patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: For this study, data were collected and individual interviews were conducted from June 1 to July 16, 2012, with 149 young and middle adulthood patients with type 2 diabetes at Korea University Anam Hospital. Results: The mean score of self-care evaluated in terms of dietary control, medication administration, physical exercise, self-monitoring of blood glucose and general healthcare was 63.68 points (20 to 100). The mean scores of various factors related to self-care were as follows: The mean score of perceived health status was 8.90 points (3 to 15), family support was 37.75 points (12 to 48), stress related to diabetes mellitus was 44.61 points (17 to 85), self-efficacy was 26.06 points (10 to 40),depression was 10.19 points (0 to 63) and situational influence was 10.89 points (6 to 24). The most important factors related to self-care were predicted as 45% by self-efficacy and 48% added situational influence. According to age, the most important factors related to self-care were predicted as 77% by self-efficacy in the 20 to 29 age group,