O Mundo da Saúde (May 2021)
Perceived Stress and Self-care Among Diabetes Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases
Abstract
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) corresponds to 90-95% of all cases of DM and has a multifactorial etiology, involving genetic inheritance and environmental factors such as: diet, physical inactivity, obesity, and advanced age. People with DM2 need specific care, continuous self-care, and control of perceived stress. This study aimed to identify the perceived stress and self-care activities of patients associated with socio-demographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables. This cross-sectional, prospective, quantitative study was conducted to understand the perceived stress and self-care of DM2 patients, admitted to a Cardiovascular Hospital in São José do Rio Preto, SP, using two questionnaires and a scale. It was found that most patients were elderly, cardiopathic, hypertensive, did not practice physical activity, did not follow a diet, among other aspects. The perceived stress level represented an average score of 26.4 points, that is, less than half of the total value, suggesting a low perception of stress in the sample. Regarding the self-care domain, it was generally found to be low, as patients did not perform self-care activities on at least six days a week. The only domains performed were specific diet on average 5.2 days a week and medication use on average 4.7 days a week. It is concluded that the present study offers information for planning the treatment of patients with DM2, obtaining the best glycemic control, suggesting educational interventions or methodologies, and promoting improved adherence to self-care activities and reducing stress that influence the health outcomes of these patients.
