Influences of patient activation on diabetes self-care activities and diabetes-specific distress

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of patient activation on diabetes self-care activities and diabetes-specific distress among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study was a secondary data analysis, utilizing data collected from September 2016 to July 2017, for 151 adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in ambulatory endocrinology units of two tertiary hospitals in a metropolitan city. The instruments used for data collection included the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire, the Patient Activation Scale, and the Brief Diabetes Distress Screening Instrument. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to test the influence of patient activation levels on self-care activities and diabetes-specific distress, after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. Results: The average patient activation level was 67.8±16.72 (with the possible range from 0 to 100), and the average diabetes-specific distress level was 6.91±2.69 (with the possible range from 2 to 12). Diabetes self-care activities scores were highest in medication adherence and lowest in glucose self-monitoring. Patient activation was the significant factor influencing self-care activities, after controlling for demographic and clinical variables, but showed no significant influence on diabetes-specific distress. Oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin medications were the significant factors influencing diabetes-specific distress. Conclusion: These findings indicate the importance of nursing interventions to improve patient activation and to alleviate diabetes-specific distress. Therefore, in order to improve diabetes self-care activities, it is necessary to facilitate patient activation for diabetes care.