Influencing Factors of Self-Management Behavior Among Chinese Patients With Chronic Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to describe the self-management behavior levels and further explore its influencing factors among patients with chronic disease.

A cross-sectional study.

460 convenient samples of patients with chronic disease in Zhejiang Province were investigated using a demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), and the Chronic Disease Self-Management Behavior Scale between October and December 2023. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, Spearman correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

The mean score of the self-management behavior of the patients with chronic disease was 32.27 (standard deviation [SD] = 8.67). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that self-management behavior among patients with chronic disease was influenced by the individual factor (frequency of health check-ups), the family factors (number of children, spouse status, and family network), and the social factor (place of residence).

The self-management behavior among patients with chronic disease was at a moderate level and needed further improvement. The self-management behavior among patients with chronic disease was influenced by three kinds of factors. Specifically, for the individual factor, patients who had a higher frequency of health check-ups reported better self-management behavior; for the family factors, patients who had no spouse, few children, and a strong family network showed better self-management behavior; for the social factor, patients living in urban areas had better self-management behavior.