RESUMEN
Diabetes mellitus as a chronic disease is associated with complications and stress. Empowerment as a coping index in health issues can be helpful among diabetic patients. In this study, we aimed to determine empowerment and adoption of self-management behaviors and its related factors among type 2 diabetic patients referring to hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2010. This study was a cross-sectional research conducted during a 9 months period [2010-2011]. A total of 688 samples were selected by random sampling. A questionnaire consisting of three parts including socio-demographic and health related data, diabetes empowerment scale [28 items], and diabetes self- management instrument [35 items] was used. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS software version 18 with using parametric and nonparametric tests. Response rate was 100%. Mean age of participants was 54.41 +/- 8.22 [Mean +/- SD]. Study findings showed that empowerment had significant relation between level of education [p=0.006] and age [p=0.009]. Self- management and some variables such as age [p<0.001], level of education [p<0.001], marital status [p=0.04] and disease duration [p=0.004] had significant relationship. Also, Pearson correlation coefficient showed that empowerment had reverse and linear relation with adoption of self-management behaviors among type 2 diabetic patients. Thus, by increasing empowerment score, adoption of self-management behaviors is increased [r = 0.28, p<0.001]. Regarding to relation between empowerment and adoption of self-management behaviors, focusing on planning empowerment based interventions has been more highlighted. It seems these strategies can be helpful in decreasing complications and mortality.