Management Behaviors of Illness at Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study is to reveal the knowledge level about the diseases of type 2 diabetics and their knowledge and application of tertiary prevention practices and related factors. Materials and Methods: The universe of the cross-sectional study is type 2 diabetes patients in Talas district. Within the scope of the study, 390 adult patients were reached between November 2018 and April 2019. The data was collected by face-to-face interviewing by questionnare method. Numbers and percentages in the representation of frequency tables, chi square tests in the evaluation of categorical data were used. Results: 57.9% of the research group is female and the average age is 57.9±10.1. In addition to diabetes, the most common chronic diseases are; hypertension (45.6%), dyslipidemia (42.1%) and heart disease (25.9%). The rate of those who have received diabetes education at least once from the health personnel is 83.1% and the education received was mostly about nutrition (75.9%), use of diabetes drugs (62.1%), and self-measurement of blood glucose (53.3%). Those with longer disease experience have a higher knowledge of correct practices. Conclusion: Compared to studies in the literature, the proportion of those who received at least one training in diabetes management is high. Patients have lower rates of practice what they need to do in disease management than they know. In order for patient education to be successful in preventing complications, there should be goals of behavior change and attitude development, not just information.

Keywords

• diabetes education
• tertiary prevention
• chronic disease management