KNOWLEDGE, HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL, AND DEGREE OF COMPLIANCE IN THE INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC PATIENT.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 194
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between knowledge of diabetes mellitus, internal health locus of control, and degree of compliance in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. A descriptive, nonexperimental design was used to investigate the following relationships: (I) Insulin-dependent diabetic patients who are more compliant have greater knowledge of the disease (diabetes mellitus) than insulin-dependent diabetic patients who are less compliant. (II) Insulin-dependent diabetic patients who have higher internal health locus of control scores have greater knowledge of the disease (diabetes mellitus) than insulin-dependent diabetic patients who have lower internal health locus of control scores. (III) Insulin-dependent diabetic patients who are more compliant and who also have higher internal health locus of control scores have greater knowledge of the disease (diabetes mellitus) than insulin-dependent diabetic patients who are noncompliant and who also have lower internal health locus of control scores.

The sample consisted of 54 adult diabetic subjects who were members of a diabetic organization and who had attended workshops and discussion groups sponsored by the organization. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires which were mailed to potential respondents in the greater Austin, Texas, area.

The results of the analysis of variance indicated that neither degree of compliance nor levels of internal health locus of control were related to diabetes knowledge test scores. Hypotheses 1, 2, and 3 were not supported by the analysis of variance of the data.

However, about 32% of the variability that occurred in the Diabetes Knowledge Test scores could be explained by three independent variables: highest educational level attained by the respondents, internal health locus of control score, and number of years taking insulin. These three independent variables made a statistically significant contribution toward explaining knowledge in the insulin-dependent diabetic patient.

The results of this study revealed that although internal health locus of control score by itself was not a statistically significant predictor of knowledge, when it was used in combination with educational level, it did produce a statistically significant increase in predictive accuracy.

The findings of this study indicated a need for further research and examination of those factors which contribute to greater knowledge in the insulin-dependent diabetic patient.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-11, Section: B, page: 3781.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1985.

School code: 0227.