Unmet needs for social support and diabetes-related distress among people living with type 2 diabetes in Thai Binh, Vietnam: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Diabetes-related distress (DRD) refers to negative emotional and affective experiences from daily demands of living with diabetes. People who received social support seem less likely to experience DRD. The prevalence of T2D in Vietnam is rapidly increasing. Yet, DRD and its association with social support have not been investigated. This study investigates DRD and how it is associated with unmet needs for social support in people with T2D in Thai Binh Province, Vietnam. Methods A total of 806 people, age ≥ 40 years, treated for T2D at primary hospitals in Thai Binh Province, Vietnam, completed a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey. DRD was self-reported, based on the Problem Areas In Diabetes scale 5 (PAID5). We assessed 6 types of unmet needs for social support from family/friends/community including: (i) Transport and company when visiting health facilities; (ii) Reminders to take medication; (iii) Purchase and preparation of food; (iv) Reminders to engage in physical exercise; (v) Emotional support; and (vi) Financial support. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model DRD as an outcome of each type of unmet need for social support, and as an outcome of the number of unmet needs for social support, adjusted for three sets of covariates. Results In this study, 50.0% of people with T2D experienced DRD. Odds for DRD were higher among those who had any unmet need for social support. After adjustment for household economic status, only unmet needs for emotional and financial support were associated with higher odds ratios of DRD (OR = 2.59, CI95%: 1.19–5.63 and OR = 1.63, CI95%: 1.10–2.40, respectively). People who had ≥2 type of unmet need were not a higher risk of experiencing DRD as compared to those with no unmet need. Conclusions Half of the people with T2D experienced DRD. The results suggest that having enough finances may decrease most needs for social support with the exception of emotional support. Thus, social support to financial and emotional of diabetes aspects may contribute to prevent or reverse DRD.

Diabetes-related Distress and the Association to Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Among Individuals Living with Type 2 Diabetes in Rural areas in Vietnam

“…Vietnam. The previous study further reported that the risk of developing DRD increased with number of types of unmet needs for social support [8]. The increased risk of DRD among individuals with multiple unmet needs aligns with the results in the present study.…”

“…Characteristics of the total sample and distributions of individuals with DRD are presented in Table 1. As we have been reporting in a previous study [8] we found that among the 806 individuals with an age of 40 or above, 50.0% (n=403) presented with DRD. Approximately half of the included individuals were female (52.7%) and found that being female had a statistically significant association with DRD (OR: 2.17, CI95%: 1.64-2.88).…”

“…Besides the psychological impact of DRD, studies from high-income countries report that DRD influences glycaemic control and self-care: people with DRD had higher blood levels of triglycerides and higher BMI [5,10]. Additionally, two more recent studies based on analyses of data from the same population in Vietnam as used in the present study, DRD was associated with the occurrence of polypharmacy and unmet needs for social support [8,11].…”

“…A systematic review, including 55 studies from different countries, showed that approximately 36% of individuals with T2D were suffering from DRD[7]. In a previous study on DRD, with data from the same population as used in the present study, 50% of the individuals reported symptoms of DRD[8]. In addition, a smaller study from a medical centre in Vietnam showed that approximately 12% of the individuals diagnosed with T2D presented with DRD[9].…”

“…Demographic and socio-economic characteristics were chosen as covariables based on previous literature, including a recent study of this present sample [8], and a priori based on an assumption that these variables could function as predictors for DRD in this specific socio-cultural context (Appendix E). Gender was categorized into: 1) Male; and 2) Female.…”