Effects on diabetes self care behaviors of acceptance of disease in diabetic individuals

This study was created for the purpose of determining the effect of diabetes self-care behaviors on the acceptance of diabetes in diabetic individuals. 133 diabetic individuals who met the inclusion criterias and diabetic individuals consulting ambulatory treatment and receiving inpatient treatment in these services from Abant İzzet Baysal University, Izzet Baysal Education Research Hospital Internal Medicine and Endocrinology Polyclinic formed the universe of the cross-sectional type of work. Data were collected by the researcher with face-to-face interview technique being used Question Form (socio demographic characteristics, characteristics about health status, characteristics about diabetic), Disease Acceptance Scale and The Summary of Diabetes Self Care Activities Questionnaire – SDSCA. Number, percentage, average, standard deviation, one way ANOVA model, Post-hoc Tukey and Pearson correlation analysis were used in the given analysis. Data were evaluated with SPSS (ver. 18) and statistical significance level was taken as p<0.05. According to the findings obtained from the study, it was observed a statistically significant positive correlation between the total score of disease acceptance and the total score of diabetes self care activities (p=0.001). A statistically significant positive correlation (p<0.05) was observed between diet score, exercise score and foot care score, while there was no statistically significant difference between blood glucose score and total disease acceptance score. It could not be found any statistically significant correlation between total score of disease acceptance and HbA1C. According to the findings obtained from the study, the acceptance score decreases as the duration of diagnosis increases (p<0.05). The disease acceptance score was found to be statistically significantly lower in women with lower income expense, in the presence of additional chronic diseases (hypertension, heart failure and asthma) and in the presence of diabetic complications (nephropathy, neuropathy and retinopathy). The total score of diabetes self-care activities was found to be statistically significantly higher in those having higher education levels. When it was surveyed with the relationship between categorical characteristics and self-care subscores, it was identified that the diet score was lower in the education level, the foot care score was lower in the village and lower education level, and the exercise score was lower in the married ones. As a consequence, the disease acceptance has an important place in self care activities in diabetic individuals. Nurses in the healthcare team have a key role in this matter. Nurses should help disease acceptance of diabetic individuals and participation in disease management; inadequate acceptance should be defined with appropriate interventions; according to the acceptance level, regular follow-up, individual treatment and care plan should be provided. For the increase of quality of life, prevention or reduction of complications, reduction of care costs, it should be helped with diabetic individuals and when it is necessary, it should be supported with education programs and psychological interventions. Key Words: Diabetes, Acceptance of İllness, Self Care Activities, Nurse.