Revista Finlay (Oct 2023)
Social Support in the Treatment of Diabetes in Young People
Abstract
Foundation: in various chronic diseases, social support can significantly influence treatment adherence, disease management and emotional well-being. Objective: to analyze the relationship between perceived social support and the effectiveness of self-management of diabetes treatment in young people. Method: a descriptive, cross-sectional correlational study was carried out in two diabetes clinics in the north and center of the city in the period from February to April 2023. Selective sampling was carried out. The study involved the evaluation of a group of 100 young diabetics aged 16 to 18 years. The technique used to collect the data was the survey. The Social Support Questionnaire and the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire were used to characterize the sample. Quantitative tests were performed to measure glycated hemoglobin as a medical indicator. The results were statistically analyzed using non-parametric tests and analysis of variance with the SPSS 25.0 statistical package. Results: analysis of the test results revealed no significant differences in social support between patients with high and low self-control. Patients with poor treatment outcome perceived less social support network, but were more satisfied than patients with good diabetes control; furthermore, the duration of diabetes morbidity was moderately and negatively correlated with the support network and the degree of satisfaction with the help received. Conclusions: although patients with poor therapeutic outcomes were expected to receive less support, the results showed that both groups received the same amount of support and were equally satisfied with it.
