Attitudes, Ways of Coping and Self-care in Patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is one of the most frequent and important diseases due to its complications. 80% or more of the patients do not follow the medical advice. OBJECTIVE: To know the attitudes towards diabetes, its influence on ways of coping and the adherence to selfcare, according to age, gender, sociocultural background and locus of control in patients with diabetes type 2 attending public hospitals in Buenos Aires city. METHODS: A descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted. A systematic sample of 337 patients was selected to answer a questionnaire including personal information, work and family situation, locus of control scale, ways of coping inventory, self-care practice scale and attitudes towards diabetes. RESULTS: The perception of the illness as challenge was significantly higher (p<0.001) in patients with a positive or neutral attitude to diabetes than in those with a negative perception. The positive attitude led to active ways of coping, which in turn improved the adherence to selfcare. CONCLUSIONS: The results show the importance of diabetes education related to a cognitive component of attitude. However, it is not enough to achieve full adherence to treatment.