[Health locus of control assessment in diabetes mellitus type 2 patients]

Health locus of control (LOC) refers to the person beliefs who or what has control over his/her health. A person's LOC orientation is one of several factors that determine which health-related behaviors a person will perform.

To explore LOC of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2) patients, also in relation to patient' socio-demographic characteristics (sex, education, working status, and family status), context (place of birth, experience with chronic diseases in family, economic status), social support and quality of life.

This cross-sectional study was carried out in 77 DMT2 patients in two family medicine practices. Patients filled out two questionnaires: on patient general data and ZLK-90-2 questionnaire. Statistic analysis was done using Statistica, version 7.1 software, and values of P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The patient mean age was 63.4 years +/- 13.1 (M +/- SD), and mean duration of diabetes 10.3 +/- 8.2 years (M +/- SD). The belief ininternal LOC was most common in study patients, followed by the belief in health dependence on circumstances, influence of chance, destiny or God, and finally influence of powerful others. Highly educated patients had a statistically significantly less expressed internal LOC and belief in the influence of chance, destiny or God. The patients that underestimated their quality of life, showed a statistically significantly lower rate of belief in health dependence on circumstances.

In spite of the small sample size and unfavorable patient distribution according to age, work status, disease duration and education, results of this and other studies on LOC, forcing LOC orientation regarding self-treatment and self-control of DMT2 patients could be of high importance, with the assumption of good internal responsibility and belief in help of other important people.

Understanding LOC of DMT2 patients is essential for developing more efficient educative and intervention medical programs for care of these patients, since it could help in making the right access to care for every single patient or group of patients that have the same LOC.