Self-Management Practices and Perceived Risk of Complications Among Patients With Type II Diabetes in a Primary Care Setting

This study aimed to examine the relationship between diabetes self-management practices and risk perceptions regarding complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) applying to primary care centers and to identify the sociodemographic (age, education, income), clinical (HbA1c levels, duration of diabetes), and behavioral (physical activity, dietary habits) determinants influencing these outcomes.

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 T2DM patients applying to Family Health Centers in Siirt, Turkey, between October and December 2023. Data were collected face-to-face using a sociodemographic form, the Diabetes Self-Management Scale (DSMS), and the Risk Perception Survey-Diabetes Mellitus (RPS-DM). To minimize potential interviewer or social desirability bias, all researchers involved in data collection underwent a standardized training session before the study began. During the administration, standardized instructions were read to each participant, and a neutral, non-judgmental environment was maintained to encourage honest reporting.

The mean DSMS score was 5.63±1.52, and the RPS-DM mean score was 4.17±1.34. While age, treatment type, and family history significantly affected self-management, gender, education, and presence of complications significantly influenced risk perception (p<0.05). A weak but significant positive correlation was found between diabetes self-management and risk perception (r=0.174, p=0.014). This indicates that as patients' risk perception regarding complications increases, their self-management behaviors tend to improve, although the effect size remains limited. Deficits were particularly noted in diet and physical activity domains.

Family history is a significantly associated factor with both improved self-management and higher risk perception. However, the insufficient risk perception observed even in patients who have experienced complications indicates a serious awareness gap. Effective diabetes education programs focusing on family support are urgently needed in primary care.