Current Status of Self-management and Barriers in Elderly Diabetic Patient.
10.4093/kdj.2008.32.3.280
- Author:
Gyong Ae CHOI
1
;
Soo Mi JANG
;
Hong Woo NAM
Author Information
1. Department of Social Work, HanGang Sacred Heart Hospital Hallym University, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Barriers;
Elderly diabetic patients;
Self-management;
Social support
- MeSH:
Aged;
Aging;
Assertiveness;
Diet;
Drinking;
Foot;
Humans;
Insulin;
Power (Psychology);
Quality of Life;
Self Care;
Smoke;
Smoking
- From:Korean Diabetes Journal
2008;32(3):280-289
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Diabetes has a critical effect on elderly diabetic patients' quality of life. Elderly diabetic patients have many difficulties in diabetes self-management because their physical, psychological and social functions are decreased as a result of the aging process. Therefore, we evaluated the current status of self-management and barriers in elderly diabetic patients METHODS: The sample was 124 elderly diabetic patients (over 61 years) who visited a hospital and two senior welfare centers in Seoul from July to August 2006. The results of the study were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, T-test, and hierarchical regression. RESULTS: 1) Diabetes self-management was composed of insulin injection, diet, exercise, foot management, smoking and drinking alcohol. An average score of self-management in the elderly diabetic patients was 4.5784. In demographic variables, only job status showed a significant effect on self-management. 2) Barriers such as 'forgetting taking diet and medication', 'being interrupted by others', and 'lack of family and social support' were significant factors in diabetes self-management. 3) These barriers for diabetes self-management were still significant in the case of controlling demographic and clinical variables. CONCLUSION: Diabetic educator should identify the significant factors that affect patient's self-management such as whether they have a full-time job, or the type of their job. In addition, diabetes education should focus on assertiveness training to deal with various interpersonal barriers and empowerment for enhancing patient's self-efficacy. These approaches would benefit patients who experience barriers of diabetes self-management
