Factors Influencing Intention to Receive Examination of Diabetes Complications

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand the situation of diabetes patients receiving examinations for diabetes complications and to explore the factors influencing their intention to receive examinations for diabetes complications. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed that included 251 diabetes patients who visited outpatient clinics in Southern Taiwan. A survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from October 2015 to January 2016. The questionnaire included items on demographic characteristics, perceived susceptibility to diabetes complications, perceived seriousness of diabetes complications, perceived benefits of taking action to receive diabetes complication examinations, perceived barriers to taking action to receive diabetes complication examinations, and the intention to receive diabetes complication examinations. The data were analyzed using regression analysis. RESULTS: The percentage of participants who received fundus, foot, and kidney examinations was 67.7%, 61.4%, and 73.3%, respectively. Every point increase on the perceived barriers to taking action to receive diabetes complication examinations scale increased the intention to receive a foot examination in the following year by 0.91 times (p = .002), and every point increase on the perceived susceptibility to diabetes complications scale increased the intention to receive a kidney examination in the following year by 1.19 times (p = .045). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses should shoulder the responsibility to increase patients' intention to receive examination of diabetes complications. The results of this study can be used to promote nurses' care efficacy in preventing diabetes complications. They can also provide medical institutions with information to establish prevention and control policies for diabetes complications.

A importância da assistência de enfermagem na prevenção, controle e avaliação à pacientes protadores de diabetes com neuropatia e vasculopatia / The importance of nursing care in the prevention, control and evaluation of diabetic patients with neuropathy and vasculopathy

O objetivo deste é o de relatar a experiência da autora na implantação da assistência de enfermagem no Programa de Prevenção e Controle do Diabetes Mellitus (DM), visando contribuir na detecção precoce e no tratamento de lesões decorrentes das vasculopatias e neuropatias ocasionadas poressa afecção. Esse programa teve início após seu estágio de aperfeiçoamento técnico-científico desenvolvido na Inglaterra neste Programa, onde atuou junto a podologistas e enfermeiros especialistas em cuidados aos pés de portadores de DM. O trabalho descreve um modelo de Consulta de Enfermagem direcionada ao atendimento à portadores de DM e que apresentam úlceras tróficas, varicosas, mal perfurante plantar, utilizando tecnologia apropriada de enfermagem. Os resultados parciais alcançados indicam um índice de cicatrização total em 65 por cento dos casos e com redução da lesão em 35 por cento dos casos após dois meses de intervenção, contribuindo assim para a diminuição do número de amputações em portadores de DM.