Abstract

The purpose of this two-phase mixed methods study was to examine the influence of selected variables on quality of life (QOL) and adherence to diabetes regimen in a convenience sample of adults with Type 2 diabetes. Participants were all clients of the same American Diabetes Association-recognized diabetes center and had previously received comprehensive diabetes education. Sixty-one percent of the participants reported education beyond the high school level; 41.5% reported annual family income of more than $50,000. In Part 1 of the study, participants (n = 94) completed a survey that included measures of self-efficacy, illness demand, family support, satisfaction with care, QOL, and adherence. In Part 2, selected respondents (n = 23) participated in an interview that focused on the same variables. For both survey and interview data, comparisons were made between those in the high and low adherence groups with regard to self-efficacy, illness demand, family support, and satisfaction with care. Persons in the low adherence group, as well as those with longer duration of diabetes, had significantly lower self efficacy and higher illness demand than those in the high adherence group. Individuals in both high and low adherence groups reported lower levels of self-efficacy when it was necessary to make adjustments in the diabetes self-care regimen. Self-efficacy was found to be a significant predictor of both adherence (R2 = 0.35, p <.001) and QOL (R2 = 0.40, p <.001). Illness demand and family support contributed to QOL, but did not significantly influence adherence for this sample. A moderate correlation (r = 0.50, p <.001) was found between adherence and QOL. Data from the interview participants indicated that, while strict adherence was generally perceived as having a positive effect on QOL, low adherers had a tendency to perceive more negative effects. The results suggest that diabetes educators should focus on efforts to improve self efficacy and the individual's perception of QOL in order to enhance adherence to diabetes regimen, and that ongoing attention to these aspects is needed in order to provide optimal support to those with longer disease duration.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 3033423; ProQuest document ID: 304772827. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Michele L. Poradzisz, RN, PhD

Sigma Membership

Alpha Omicron

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quasi-Experimental Study, Other

Research Approach

Mixed/Multi Method Research

Keywords:

Self-care, Type 2 Diabetics, Health Care Regimen

Advisors

Ferrans, Carol

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

University of Illinois Chicago

Degree Year

2001

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2019-05-23

Full Text of Presentation

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