Investigation and Analysis on Self‐Management Behaviors and Influencing Factors of Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Communities

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the current status of self‐management behaviors and influencing factors among community‐dwelling elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in Chongqing, so as to provide evidence for improving patients' self‐management and preventing or delaying the development of diabetic complications. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted using questionnaire survey, literature review and statistical analysis. Results: The total self‐management score of participants was (53.71±7.26), the self‐efficacy score was (30.85±7.06), and the total diabetes distress score was (40.0±7.6). Living conditions showed significant effects on multiple dimensions of self‐management. Economic status was significantly associated with blood glucose management and foot‐care sub‐dimensions rather than the overall self‐management score. Exercise, diet and blood‐glucose‐control sub‐dimensions of self‐efficacy, as well as emotional burden, doctor‐related distress and life‐regularity‐related burden of diabetes distress were significant predictors of self‐management behaviors. Conclusions: Self‐management behaviors of the sampled community‐dwelling elderly patients with type 2 diabetes were at a low level, accompanied by poor self‐efficacy. Life‐regularity‐related burden was the primary source of diabetes‐related distress in this cohort. Living status had an impact on patients' self‐management, while household income only influenced partial self‐management domains. Both self‐efficacy and diabetes distress were important factors affecting self‐management behaviors. Targeted community interventions should focus on boosting self‐efficacy and relieving diabetes distress for this population.