Diabetic Distress Among Diabetic Patients in the Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Diabetes distress is a psychological reaction to the threat of diabetes, when an individuals diagnosed with diabetes consider the coping resources they possess as insufficient to manage the illness threat, thus triggering emotional distress specific to diabetes. Research conducted in Ethiopia regarding diabetes-related distress is scant. The main purpose of this study was to assess the status of diabetic distress among diabetic patients in the hospitals of the Amhara Region. A hospital-based cross-sectional survey research approach was employed. A total of 14 hospitals was included in the study using stratified simple random sample methods. The participans of the study were 532 diabetic patients who were selected using systematic simple random sampling methods. The pertinent data were collected using diabetic distress scale-17 (DDS-17). The instrument of the study was rated, piloted, and finally validated. Both descriptive and inferential techniques were used to analyze the data. The cutoff for low, moderate, and high distress level was <2, 2–2.9, and >3, respectively. The study revealed that the participant in the study area experienced a moderate level of distress. The status of diabetic distress for the diabetic sub-scale was also determined for emotional burden, physician-related distress, regimen-related distress, and interpersonal distress, it was also found to be (2.79 ± 0.85), (3.14 ± 0.87), (3.19 ± 0.81), and (3.04 ± 0.93) respectively. The most important domain in measuring diabetic distress was regimen-related distress. Statistically, a significant difference was detected in the level of diabetic distress among diabetic patients concerning marital status, educational status, the experience of living with diabetes, and having habits of planned physical exercise. Statistically, a significant difference was not observed for age, sex, and occupational status. Diabetic distress was a solemn psychological problem among diabetic patients in the hospitals of the Amhara Region. A strong policy document is required to bind the physical treatment with psychological elements to reduce distress

Diabetes-related distress and its associated factors among people with type 2 diabetes in Southeast Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…On the contrary, our finding was lower than the study conducted in Indonesia (60.5%),2 and Amhara region, Ethiopia (87.6%) 10. This discrepancy between the previously reported DRD magnitude and the current prevalence was supported by previous studies conducted in Indonesia (60.5%),2 and in Vietnam,21 which documented that diabetes distress varies widely in different countries and healthcare settings and it is not also similar in terms of demographics, clinical characteristics in each geographical region and cultural backgrounds.…”

“…Each question has six answer choices: (1) no problem, (2) slight problem, (3) moderate problem, (4) a somewhat serious problem, (5) a serious problem and (6) a very serious problem. The questionnaire contains four domains: emotional burden (5 items: questions 1, 3, 8, 11 and 14); physician-related distress (4 items: questions 2, 4, 9 and 15); regimen-related distress (5 items: questions 5, 6, 10, 12 and 16) and interpersonal-related distress (3 items: questions 7, 13 and 17) 10. An overall mean score of DRD (four domains) less than 2.0 was considered as little to no distress, a score between 2.0 and 2.9 was considered moderate distress, and a score of 3.0 or higher was considered a high level of distress 10.…”

“…The DDS-17 was used to measure each patient’s DRD. Categorisation was done using the overall mean scores as a score of less than 2.0 was considered as little to no distress, a score between 2.0 and 2.9 was considered moderate distress, and a score of 3.0 or higher was considered a high level of distress 10…”

“…However, a study conducted in the Amhara region, Ethiopia had limitations and missed important clinical and diabetic-related variables that might be associated with DRD. Therefore, further studies are recommended to incorporate these variables to better understand DRD among people with T2DM in Ethiopia 10…”

Foot Exercise to Overcome Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A literature Review

“…Almost half (46.2%) of deaths at the age of 20-79 years are caused by DM. (Coregliano-Ring et al, 2022;International Diabetes Federation, 2019;Linkeviciute-Ulinskiene et al, 2020;Wolde, 2021). DM disease will impact the quality of life and significantly increase health costs (Akena et al, 2015;.…”