Health beliefs of elders with diabetes about care and treatment of diabetes

Health Beliefs of Elders with Diabetes About Care and Treatment of DiabetesThis study is descriptive research which was held to determine health belief of old patients with diabetes about nursing and treatment of diabetes. The study sample consisted of accessible 280 of the 1176 old individuals with diabetes registered in the Family Health Centre in Mezitli district of Mersin.Data was collected using introductory information form, Scale of Health Belief Model of Patients with Diabetes. Shapiro-Wilk test, Student test, Mann Whitney U test, One Way Analysis of Variance, Kruskal-Wallis test were used in analysis of data.When Scale of Health Belief Model was evaluated generally, it was seen that old patients with diabetes had negative health belief (3,99 ± 0,33). It was determined that education level and taking knowledge of sickness were factors positively associated. It was determined that the total points of SIMÖ and the average points of perceived benefits and perceived barriers of the elders who meant they controlled their blood glucose levels were higher (p<005). It was determined that the avarage points of perceived barriers and offerred activities of the elders who meant to adjust diet, perceived barriers of the elders who meant to check up regularly also perceived benefits of the elders who meant to do exercise regularly were higher (p<005).As a result of study, İt was offered to notice education of self-management of diabetes to improve health beliefs also compliance with treatment, using SİMÖ to determine educational requirement and investigating the factors which affect health belief with qualitative studies.Key Words: Diabetes Mellitus, Old, Health Belief Model.