Research on diabetes: prioritization, quality of life, medication adherence, and self-efficacy

According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7.8% of the population in the United States has diabetes, with 1.6 million new cases diagnosed in adults each year (CDC, 2008). The morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes is significant. This research brief column features four diabetes-related studies. The first article describes an examination of patient-provider concordance in prioritizing health conditions in patients with diabetes with elevated blood pressure levels. The second write-up profiles a study investigating quality of life and depression in patients diagnosed with diabetes and patients at risk of developing diabetes. The third article discusses the role that disease and medication beliefs have on medication adherence. The last review provides information on a study that assesses the relationship between diabetes self-efficacy and glycemic control and other clinical parameters, and whether an intervention can affect changes in self-efficacy and, in turn, clinical outcomes. Each review describes how the study findings may have implications for home healthcare. Interested readers are encouraged to read the original articles for full information about the study methods and findings.