The analysis of health behaviours and illness acceptance in patients with diabetes

Abstract

Background. Presently, diabetes is one of the major problems of healthcare, both in medical and socioeconomic terms, in most countries worldwide. a key role in the proper functioning of diabetic patients is played by health behaviors, which result in specific health effects. Objectives. the analysis of health behaviors and illness acceptance in patients with diabetes. Material and methods. the study was conducted at the national health care centre "kMw centrum zdrowia" in Stargard. the study included 215 people aged 30-87 suffering from diabetes. the study was carried out by means of a diagnostic survey method, and the research tool used was a questionnaire. it consisted of three parts, the first of which was the authors' questionnaire, the second was the health behavior inventory (hbi), and the third was the acceptance of illness Scale (aiS). Results. an analysis of the results has shown that the majority of the study sample (59.1%) gained high scores for an increase on health behaviors according to the hbi-approximately 7-10 sten scores. the average level of an overall increase in health behaviors exhibited by the participants (hbi) amounted to 91.0 ± 14.82 points. the respondents demonstrated similar levels of average results regarding all categories of health behaviors according to the hbi. Data analysis related to illness acceptance has indicated that the average level of illness acceptance of the study subjects amounted to 31.80 ± 7.91 points. Conclusions. Patients with diabetes showed high levels of health behaviors and illness acceptance, and the results depended upon the subjects' education, duration of the illness and health education. Females and patients suffering from diabetes for a long period of time require psychological support to resolve disease-related problems, cope with difficulties and develop positive attitudes towards the disease.

Acceptance of illness and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes

“…The level of disease acceptance among the participants of the authors' own study is average. Similar results were obtained by Juczyński [8], while the results obtained by Felton [9] and Starczewska et al [20] indicated a much higher level of disease acceptance among diabetes patients.…”

Normalization of the AIS (Acceptance of Illness Scale) questionnaire and the possibility of its use among cancer patients

“…Among patients with Parkinson's disease, the average acceptance of illness was M=25.28 (SD=7.26), among patients on dialysis -M=25.68 (SD=9.35), among patients with psoriasis -M=27.46 (SD=8.58), and among patients with multiple sclerosis, the AIS test result was M=24.83 (SD=9.41) [20,21,22]. A significantly higher average level of acceptance of illness characterizes diabetic patients, which in the studies conducted by Krupas D. et al was M=29.00, and in the study conducted by Starczewska M. et al -M=31.80 (SD=7.91) [13,23].…”

Validity and Reliability of an Instrument for Assessing Self-Care Behaviours in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Patients in Binjai City, Indonesia

“…Research conducted on patients in South India proves that patients who are given by education or counselling about diabetes can improve knowledge, attitudes and change the actions of patients to be more positive and have an impact on improving the quality of life of patients [12], [13]. Good knowledge and understanding of the disease will help patients accept their conditions and try to recover and live a healthy life [14].…”

“…Communication is an essential factor and the key to successful treatment of chronic patients such as diabetes. Excellent and effective communication between doctors/health workers with diabetic patients into positive energy, motivation and encouraging patients who will improve their health [14]. Communication training between doctors and patients in primary services shows training can improve the doctor's relationship with patients, resulting in satisfaction with both sides, the patient's willingness to be involved in medical decision making, as well as the patient commitment to the treatment plan, lifestyle changes and improvement of patient health [19].…”