Correlates of Self-Care Agency Among Jordanian Patients With Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus

To assess the level and determinants of self-care agency (SCA) among patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 128 participants via an online survey. Participants were conveniently recruited from diabetes clinics in two major hospitals (one public, one teaching) in Jordan's largest cities. Data were collected using the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised (ASAS-R), Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale, and Diabetes Self-Management Scale. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were used. Data collection occurred from October 2019 to January 2020.

Participants showed a relatively high level of SCA (74.1%, M = 55.5/75, SD = 6.87). Significant differences in the ASAS-R "lacking power" subscale were found based on marital status (t = 2.39, p = .018), with single participants scoring higher (M = 2.84) than married (M = 2.44), and comorbidity status (t = 3.69, p < .001), with those without comorbidities scoring higher (M = 2.96) than those with (M = 2.43). No correlations emerged between ASAS-R scores and continuous demographics, except a negative correlation between "lacking power" and age (r = -.191, p < .05). ASAS-R total scores correlated significantly with diabetes self-efficacy (r = .543, p < .001) and self-management (r = .566, p < .001), but not with demographics.

Participants had high SCA, especially in developing power, though lower scores were seen in "lacking power." Age, marital status, and comorbidities influenced this subscale. Higher SCA was associated with greater self-efficacy and self-management, underscoring its importance in diabetes care.