How Do Basic Human Values Affect Self-Care of Type 2 Diabetes Patients? A Multicentre Observational Study.

In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, human values have been identified as having a possible impact on self-care. Despite this, basic human values have never been described in the T2DM population and the association between basic human values and self-care has not been assessed. The aims of this study were to describe basic human values and self-care, and investigate the associations between basic human values and self-care in adults with T2DM. The study was cross-sectional multicentre with T2DM patients (n = 390). Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from charts, and two questionnaires were administered. The Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) measured basic human values and allowed us to group patients into four groups based on the value profile: (A) Openness to Change and Self-Transcendence, (B) Conservation and Self-Transcendence, (C) Conservation and Self-Enhancement, and (D) Openness to Change and Self-Enhancement. The Self-care of Diabetes Inventory measured self-care maintenance, self-care monitoring, self-care management, and self-care confidence, according to the Middle-Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness. Multiple regression models were used to assess associations between the basic human values and self-care. Group D (Openness to Change and Self-Enhancement) performed significantly lower self-care maintenance (p = .024) and self-care monitoring (p = .031) when compared with Group A, and lower self-care monitoring (p = .008) and self-care management (p = .018) when compared with Group B. Group D showed significantly lower self-care monitoring (p = .027) when compared with Group C. People with T2DM who value more self-enhancement and openness to change might be more prone to perform worse self-care compared with those who value conservation and self-transcendence. Clinicians should consider this when designing interventions aimed at improving self-care behaviors in patients with T2DM.

Socio-demographic and clinical determinants of self-care in adults with type 2 diabetes: a multicentre observational study.

AIMS: To describe self-care as defined by the Middle Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness and to identify clinical and socio-demographic determinants in a T2DM population. METHODS: A multicentre observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving 540 adults with a confirmed diagnosis of T2DM from six outpatient diabetes services in Italy. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records. The Self-Care of Diabetes Inventory (SCODI) was used to measure self-care maintenance, monitoring, management, and confidence dimensions. For each separate scale, scores were standardized 0-100 with higher SCODI scores indicating better self-care; a score ≥ 70 is adequate. Multiple quantile regression models were performed to identify determinants of each self-care dimension. RESULTS: Self-care maintenance (median = 81.3) and self-care confidence (median = 79.5) were adequate in most of the subjects. Self-care monitoring was adequate in only half of the sample (median = 70.6). Self-care management was poor (median = 59.4). Lower self-care maintenance was associated with lower self-care confidence (p < 0.001). Lower self-care monitoring was associated with being male (p < 0.001), having lower self-care confidence (p < 001), and having diabetes for < 10 years (p < 0.001). Lower self-care management was associated with being male (p = 0.002), being older (p = 0.005), having a low income (p = 0.030), being employed (p = 0.008), having missed diabetes education in the last year (p = 0.002), and lower self-care confidence (p < 0.0001). Lower self-care confidence was associated with having diabetes for < 10 years (p = 0.008), and having at least one comorbid condition (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Determinants of self-care maintenance, monitoring, management and confidence include both clinical and socio-demographic variables. Modifiable determinants such as self-care confidence and diabetes self-care management education could be used to tailor interventions to improve diabetes self-care.