Factors Related to Self-Care Knowledge of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Thai Nguyen Province

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes millitus causes a heavy burden on individuals, their families and the community because it affects quality of life and requires long-term and comprehensive health care. Self-care knowledge is an important factor influencing patients' self-care behavior to reduce the impact and progression of the diabetes mellitus.  

Objectives: The study was conducted to find out some factors related to self-care knowledge of patients with type 2 diabetes in Thai Nguyen province tool such as the 30-item Diabetes Self-care Knowledge (DSCK-30). 

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study, using the toolkit to assess the 30-item Diabetes Self-care Knowledge (DSCK-30) of patients with diabetes mellitus, was conducted on 408 2TDM patients at Thai Nguyen National Hospital.

Results: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had good self-care knowledge; the mean total score of knowledge was 21.20 ± 5.25 out of 30 scores. Self-care knowledge scores ranged from 7 to 30. The percentage of patients with self-care knowledge was still low, accounting for 53.9%. Educational qualification (t-test = -6,522; p = 0.000) and income (t-test = -2.32; p = 0.009) were related to self-care knowledge of patients with diabetes mellitus

Conclusion: It is necessary to have a program of counseling and education on self-care knowledge for people with diabetes mellitus (drug compliance, diet, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, prevention of complications and other essential self-care knowledge) for patients to raise awareness, thereby changing self-care behaviors to help patients control blood glucose  level well, prevent complications and improve quality of life