Abstract:
This correlational study aimed to describe correlations between personal
factors, health belief perceptions, and diabetic preventive behaviors in 200 first degree
relatives of patients with diabetes type 2 aged 18-59 years, residing in Tubpud district,
Phang-nga Province, Thailand. The sample was selected through purposive sampling.
Data were collected using interview with the questionnaire and were then analyzed by
descriptive statistics, Pearsons Product Moment Correlation, Spearmans Rank
Correlation, and Chi-square test.
Results revealed that average scores for health belief perception in this sample
was good both overall and within subscategories, except for perceived barriers to
preventive behavior. Average score for overall diabetic preventive behavior and
exercise behavior were appropriate. However, food behavior and relaxation behavior
were not appropriate. Correlational analysis revealed that personal factors including
age (r = .154, p=.029), and body mass index (r = .168, p = .018), and health belief
perception factors including overall health belief perception (r = .223, p = .001),
perceived risk of disease (r = .162, p=.022), and barriers to diabetic prevention (r
= .199, p=.005) were correlated with overall diabetic preventive behaviors. However,
perceived severity and perceived benefits of diabetic prevention were not correlated
with diabetic preventive behavior.
Results suggested approaches for community health nurse practitioners for
promoting health in diabetic prevention in first degree relatives of diabetic type 2
patients. Results can be used for nursing education and serve as basic information for
further study.