Background & Aim: Regarding the importance of determining the determinants of diabetes self-care, this study aimed to examine two major determinants of self-care activities, i.e. perceived barriers, and perceived self-efficacy among type two diabetic patients in Tehran, Iran.
Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 128 patients were recruited to the study using convenience sampling. The validated diabetes instruments were completed by the patients. The included participants aged older than 18 years. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlation and path analysis.
Results: The mean score of the perceived barriers and perceived self-efficacy were 3.05 and 2.18, respectively. The maximum score of self-care was 4.18. There was a positive correlation between self-efficacy and the self-care (r=0.22 P<0.01). Positive correlations were also found between education with self-efficacy and self-care (r=0.28 P<0.05), (r=0.29 P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between perceived barriers and self-care behaviors (r=-0.68 P<0.000). Using serial multiple regressions and path analysis, we had a final model (RMSEA=0.05 GFI=0.95 CFI=0.98 P=0.44 and Chi-Square=26.5). This model showed that perceived barriers were the strongest predictor for self-care behaviors. Perceived barriers mediated the effect of self-efficacy on the self-care behaviors.
Conclusion: The intervention efforts that address the studied determinants related to self-care behavior could potentially impact type two diabetic patients&apos self-care activities. These determinants should be mentioned in the program developing.

 

Background & Aim: Gestational diabetes is a major concern during pregnancy. Psychological factors such as self-efficacy play important role in adherence of the treatment, control of blood glucose, and the outcomes of the pregnancy. The main purpose of this study was to determine correlations of self-efficacy in women with gestational diabetes attending to educational medical centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran.

Methods & Materials: In this descriptive correlational study, we recruited 100 women aged 15-49 years old with gestational diabetes and singleton pregnancies using consecutive sampling method. Data were collected using Diabetic Self-Efficacy scale.

Results: The mean age of the women was 31 years. The majority of the women (66%) had moderate economic status and more than half (60%) had no higher education. Sixty eight percent of the study participants were obese or overweight. About 33% of the participants were nullipara and 69% had wanted pregnancies. The results showed that 43% of the women had low self-efficacy. The self-efficacy scores were significantly correlated with education (P=0.005) and occupation (P=0.016).

Conclusion: Self-efficacy is an important determinant of self-management and self-control in gestational diabetes. Regarding low self-efficacy among the women, it seems that implementing educational-counseling strategies to enhance self-efficacy can be helpful to promote optimum self-care among women with gestational diabetes