Magnitude and Predictors of self-care Practices among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Central Ethiopia: the health belief model perspective

Abstract

Background: Diabetes self-care practice is essential to control illness. One's ability to manage diabetic self-care is influenced by a variety of circumstances. The Health Belief Model is critical for comprehending and designing context-specific strategies for this purpose. Therefore, this study aimed to assess self-care practice of patients with diabetes mellitus using the health belief model. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March to May, 2021 at Adama Hospital Medical College and Asella Teaching and Referral Hospitals. A total of 420 diabetic patients were consecutively included in the study. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 20. Binary and multiple logistic regression models were fitted to identify the factors associated with self-care practices. Adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and p-value of 0.05 or less was used to indicate statistical significance. Results: Among the respondents nearly half, 48.1% (43.6, 53.1), were reported practicing good diabetes self-care. Respondents above high school (AOR=2.19, 95% CI= 1.09, 4.36), retired respondents (AOR=0.24, 95% CI=0.11, 0.50), those with no history of forgetting to take their medication (AOR=1.61, 95% CI=1.04, 2.66), those with good knowledge (AOR=1.81, 95% CI= 1.09, 3.01), respondents with moderate perceived susceptibility (AOR=0.42, 95% CI= 0.18, 0.98), high perceived severity (AOR= 0.33, 95% CI=0.19, 0.57), and a higher perceived barrier (AOR= 0.44, 95% CI= 0.24, 0.81) showed a significant association with diabetes self-care practices. Conclusions: Almost half of the participants practiced good self-care. Educational status, occupation, those with a history of forgetting to take their treatment, having good knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and barrier were significantly associated. Therefore, healthcare professionals and hospital administrators need to increase patients' perceived susceptibility and the serious complication of diabetes. Also, perceived barriers to self-care should be evaluated, and patients should actively be involved in tailoring required modifications to their routines.