Self-care practice and its associated factors among diabetic patients attending public hospitals in Gurage zone southwest, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires lifelong medical treatment and lifestyle modifications. Even though patients often neglect their own needs, self-care is an important factor in preventing and delaying complications related to diabetes. There are limited studies about self-care practice, and most of the studies conducted in Ethiopia focused on some parts of the recommended self-care practice. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the self-care practice and associated factors among diabetic patients in Gurage zone, south Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 6 to March 29, 2021. A systematic sampling method was employed to select 420 study participants. The data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. All variables with P < 0.25 in the bi-variable logistic regression analysis were entered into multivariable logistic regression analysis. The statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05. Results A total of 384 diabetes patients participated with a response rate of 91.4%. This study showed that more than half (60.4%) of the study participants had poor self-care practices. Being female (AOR: 2.40; 95% CI:1.31–4.40), rural residence (AOR:7.16;95% CI: 3.31–15.46), duration of diabetes treatment 5–10 years (AOR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.1–0.11), duration of diabetes treatment ≥ 10 years (AOR:0.8; 95% CI: 0.03–0.21), haven’t social support (AOR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.05–0.23), haven’t got health education (AOR: 0.17,95%CI 0.09–0.32) were factors significantly associated with self-care practice. Conclusions Despite, the importance of diabetes self-care practice for the management of diabetes and preventing its complications, a high number of diabetes patients had poor self-care practices. Female, rural residence, duration of diabetes mellitus, lack of social support, and not get of health education were significantly associated with poor self-care practice. Therefore, health care providers should give attention to diabetic patients with the aforementioned factors that affect diabetic patients’ self-care practices.

Interplay of self-care, self-efficacy, and health deviation self-care requisites: a study on type 2 diabetes patients through the lens of Orem’s self-care theory

“…This too is consistent with many other studies in the literature [ 33 – 35 ]. Though, Kong et al [ 22 ] reported SCB at a high level among type 2 diabetes patients, and Abate et al [ 36 ] and Emire et al [ 25 ] reported them at a low level, all of which are in contrast to our findings. The differences may be due to different study populations, varying levels of awareness and patients’ attitudes toward self-care and/or the use of different tools.…”

“…The literature on self-care behaviors (SCB) and self-efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes shows inconsistent findings. Some studies have found a high level of SCB and a strong correlation between self-efficacy and self-care [ 22 – 24 ], while others have reported a low or moderate level of SCB and a weak or non-significant correlation between self-efficacy and self-care [ 25 – 27 ]. Moreover, the rates of SCB, self-efficacy and health deviation self-care requisites (HDSCR) vary across different studies [ 28 – 30 ].…”

Adherence to Self - Care Practice Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Using the Theory of Planned Behavior and Health Belief Model at Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals of Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Mixed Method

“…In the current study, 337 study participants (42.4%) had good adherence to self-care practice. The finding is in line with the studies conducted in western Ethiopia in 2020 (42.7%) 14 and in the Gurage Zone in 2022 (39.6%), 45 and it is higher than the study conducted in Tigray in 2017 (37.3%). 39 The possible variation of this result might be related to the period gap resulting in some improvements in the health care systems, 46 socio-demographic characteristics, and methods in which the current study used multi-facility and a large sample size, while the previous study used a single institution and a lower sample size (278 patients).…”

Diabetes Self-Efficacy and Its Relationship with Self-Care and Glycaemic Control Among Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…This finding was consistent with the study conducted in Ethiopia where females were 2.4 times more likely to have poor self-care practice than males (AOR; 2.40, 95% CI 1.31-4.40). 19 This could be due to lower status of women in society and neglect of their health care needs. Optimum glycaemic control is needed to prevent micro-vascular complications.…”