ABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF ADULT TYPE II DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH INTEGRATING OF SELF-CARE PRACTICES INTO THEIR DAILY LIVES.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 158
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.
Description: Patient adherence to diabetes self-care practices is essential to maintaining health and preventing disability. Nonadherence to treatment regimen remains a perplexing health care problem.

The purposes were to describe the self-care abilities and limitations of the non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) outpatients, to identify the relationship between abilities and limitations, and to describe the integration of self-care practices into daily life activities. The conceptual framework was derived from Orem's (1991) Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing.

The responses of 14 female and 8 male NIDDM, sighted outpatients between the ages of 45 and 65, diagnosed for at least 1 year, were studied. Description and relationships of abilities and limitations were assessed by completing content analysis of transcribed audiotaped interviews and calculating category frequency counts and correlations. Description of the integration of self-care practices into daily life activities was accomplished by analyzing both category coded responses and the overall score on the patient's self-reported visual analogue scales, Bess' Measurement of Diabetes Self-Care Practices Scale.

Coded frequencies occurred in all categories. The highest abilities categories were attention and motivation, and the highest limitations categories were lack of knowledge and motivation. The overall integration score mean was 7.47 (range 1-10), which measured integration of diabetes self-care practices into daily life.

Subjects identified that attending to diabetes management had effects on health. Lack of motivation was directly related to all other blocks to self-care implementation. No relationship between presence and absence of motivation was identified. General lack of knowledge was evident and affected the ability to apply self-care skills. Self-regulation behaviors were reported very infrequently. Application of knowledge was negatively affected by lack of knowledge internalization. Incomes below poverty level had negative impacts on self-care practice integration. The extremely high or low overall integration scores were related to coded interview responses.

Extending research to represent non-White, older, and lower income populations is recommended. Interventions studies need to be conducted to study problem-solving abilities, coping styles, learning styles, and motivation. Assessment of the relationship between resources and self-care management practices is recommended.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-07, Section: B, page: 3688.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1995.

School code: 0005.