Relationships of Multidimensional Factors to Diabetes Complications: A Cross-Sectional, Correlational Study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes complications are prevalent in people with diabetes, causing considerable individual suffering and increased health costs. However, the relationships of multidimensional, modifiable, and nonmodifiable factors to diabetes complications and the role of diabetes distress have been rarely examined. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to examine the associations of age, sex, knowledge, self-efficacy, self-compassion, resilience, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, diabetes distress, social support, and body mass index with diabetes complications and to investigate the mediating role of diabetes distress. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, correlational study, data on all study variables were collected from 148 people with diabetes through REDCap in 2023. Multiple regression analysis and the PROCESS macro for SPSS were used to address the aims. RESULTS: Older age and higher levels of diabetes distress were associated with more diabetes complications. Depressive symptoms were associated with diabetes distress; and diabetes distress, but not depressive symptoms, was associated with diabetes complications, controlling for all other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms and diabetes distress were directly or indirectly associated with diabetes complications, and diabetes distress was a mediator in the relationship between depressive symptoms and diabetes complications. Health care providers can target reduction of depressive symptoms and diabetes distress to reduce diabetes complications.

Relationships of multidimensional factors to self-management in patients with diabetes: A Cross-sectional, correlational study.

Poor self-management in patients with diabetes is a consistent issue, leading to diabetes complications. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of demographic, cognitive, psychological, social, and physiological factors to self-management in patients with diabetes. In this cross-sectional, correlational study, data were collected from 98 patients through REDCap in 2023. Multiple regression analysis was used to address the study purpose. In the sample, adherence to adequate self-management was poor. Knowledge, self-efficacy, and body mass index (BMI) were associated with overall diabetes self-management. Self-efficacy and BMI were associated with diet and exercise. Knowledge and self-efficacy were associated with blood glucose testing. No factors were associated with smoking and foot care. In conclusion, different factors were associated with different types of self-management, but BMI and self-efficacy were associated with most types of self-management. Clinicians and researchers can target BMI, self-efficacy, and knowledge to improve self-management in patients with diabetes.

Self-care strategies and interventions needed in patients with heart failure: from patient perspectives-a qualitative study.

AIMS: Most patients with heart failure (HF) have symptoms. Poor self-care has been associated with the development or worsening symptoms. Thus, to improve HF symptoms, it may be critical to understand self-care and interventions targeting improvements in HF symptoms needed from patients' perspectives. To explore patients' perceptions of self-care strategies of individual symptoms, HF symptom improvement, and interventions needed to improve HF symptoms in patients with HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Qualitative data were collected from 20 patients with HF using a semi-structured open-ended interview guide. Data were analysed using content analysis. Five themes appeared: (i) use of a variety of strategies with some knowledge deficit and inefficiency, (ii) uncertainty in symptom improvement, (iii) consideration of several possible self-care strategies, (iv) use of situation-specific strategies in seeking treatment, and (v) willingness to receive comprehensive and realistic interventions. Patients used a variety of self-care strategies, including taking medication, reducing activities, and changing diet and position, but many reported having a lack of knowledge and multiple HF symptoms. Several patients were uncertain whether symptoms could be improved, but all patients reported that they would participate in comprehensive and realistic intervention sessions to gain knowledge about their symptoms and management strategies, and to receive emotional support from healthcare providers and peer patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with HF used several self-care strategies with the hope of symptom improvements but were uncertain about the effectiveness. More effective, comprehensive, and realistic interventions need to be delivered to patients with HF to enhance their ability to manage their symptoms.