The relationships between illness representations, emotional representation, and self-care behaviors in older persons with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes
Abstract:
The present descriptive correlational research aimed at investigating the relationships among illness representations, emotional representation, and self-care behaviors in older persons with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. The self-regulation model of Leventhal et al. (1980) was employed as the conceptual framework of the study. The study sample, recruited by means of convenience sampling, consisted of 88 older persons with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus who were treated at the diabetes clinic, outpatient department, Sriprajan Hospital, Suphanburi Province, from October to December, 2013. Data were collected based on three questionnaires: a personal data questionnaire, A Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), and A Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire (SDSCA). Pearsons product moment correlation coefficient was used in the data analysis. The study findings revealed that their mean timeline of illness was at a high level (Mean = 4.05, SD = 0.51), their controllability/curability of illness were at a high level (Mean = 4.00, SD = 0.55), their mean perceived consequences of illness were at a moderate level (Mean = 3.11, SD = 0.40), their mean emotional representation were at a low level (Mean = 2.19, SD = 0.92), and their mean self-care behaviors were at a moderate level (Mean = 4.95, SD = 0.84). In terms of causes of type 2 diabetes mellitus, it was found that the top three perceptions were lack of diet control, diabetic heredity, and deteriorated pancreas at 61.4%, 21.6%, and 8.0%, respectively. The study findings showed that the study variables that were statistically significantly related to self-care behaviors in older persons with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus were identity of illness (r = 0.486, p < 0.01), timeline of illness (r = - 0.381, p < 0.01), and perceived consequences of illness (r = 0.243, p < 0.05). On the other hand, the variables that were not associated with self-care behaviors were controllability/curability of illness (r = - 0.057) and emotional representation (r = 0.127). The study findings could be used as baseline data for health care teams to assess illness representations and to devise a guideline on care plan. Promoting patients illness representations of type 2 diabetes mellitus so that they would understand and identity of illness, timeline of illness, and consequences of illness. This method can enable them to develop and maintain appropriate self-care behaviors to control fasting blood sugar levels and prolong the onset of possible diabetic complications.