The Factors Related to Self-Treatment Behaviors among Type ۲ Diabetic Patients: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Background: Diabetes is the most common and severe metabolic disease in human. Self-treatment behaviors are common problems among diabetic patients.Aim: The present study was conducted with aim to identify the factors related to self-treatment behaviors among type ۲ diabetic patients based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out on ۳۸۱ diabetic patients referred to Hamadan Diabetes Research Center in ۲۰۱۹, which were recruited with a simple sampling method. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, including demographic characteristics and TPB constructs. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version ۱۸) and descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Independent t-test, and Linear regression. p<۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean age of the participants was ۵۵.۶۹±۱۱.۴۵ and ۶۸.۲% of the patients were male. Also, ۲۲.۳% of participants did not refer to a specific physician to monitor the diabetes treatment. Significant differences were found in the mean score of self-treatment behaviors related to gender, dwelling, and having a specific physician (p<۰.۰۵). According to the result, the TPB construct explained ۱۶% of the variance in the frequency of self-treatment behaviors. Attitude (β=۰.۲۲۷) and perceived behavior control (β=-۰.۱۱۰) were the best significant predictors of behavioral intention (p<۰.۰۵).Implications for Practice: The findings obtained in the present study suggest that applying TPB would be an efficient tool for predicting self-treatment behaviors among diabetic patients.

Keywords:

Attitude , Diabetes , Self-efficacy , Self-treatment