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Adherence to self-care and social support.
1Department of Nursing and Health Administration, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Finland. maisa.toljamo@oulu.fi
Journal of Clinical Nursing
|February 2, 2002
Summary
Many adult patients with insulin-treated diabetes struggle with self-care, but social support can mitigate challenges. Peer support is valuable for those with poor metabolic control.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Diabetes Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Self-care is crucial for managing insulin-treated diabetes.
- Understanding adherence barriers and facilitators is essential for improving patient outcomes.
- Social support plays a significant role in chronic disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe self-care adherence in adult patients with insulin-treated diabetes.
- To identify perceived difficulties in diabetes self-care.
- To assess the role of social support in diabetes self-care.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study with 213 adult patients from Northern Finland.
- Data collected via questionnaires measuring self-care adherence, difficulties, and social support.
- Statistical analysis included ANOVA, logistic regression, and correlation coefficients.
Main Results:
- One-fifth of patients neglected self-care; others practiced flexible, adherent, or self-planned self-care.
- Patients reported no difficulties with insulin treatment but faced challenges in other self-care aspects.
- Poor metabolic control, smoking, and living alone predicted self-care neglect, but social support mitigated the impact of living alone.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes self-care adherence varies, with a notable proportion neglecting aspects of their regimen.
- Social support, particularly from family and friends, is a critical factor in overcoming self-care challenges.
- Peer support may be a valuable resource for patients with poor metabolic control.