The Effect of Religious Coping on Disease Acceptance and Management Among Patients with Diabetes in Turkey

The Role of Community Organisation, Religion, Spirituality and Cultural Beliefs on Diabetes Social Support and Self-Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Integrative Literature Review

To examine the evidence for the role of community organisations, religion, spirituality, cultural beliefs, and social support in diabetes self-management, we undertook an integrative literature review utilising MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, and grey literature databases. The selected articles were appraised for quality, and the extracted data were analysed thematically. The search yielded 1586 articles, and after eliminating duplicates, 1434 titles and abstracts were screened, followed by a full-text review of 103 articles. Ultimately, 47 articles met the inclusion criteria for the review, utilising various study designs, including qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and nonrandomised clinical trials. These findings indicate that spirituality and religiosity can positively affect diabetes self-management by providing motivation, coping skills, social support, and guidance for healthy behaviours. A strong social support system enhances diabetes self-management and glycaemic control for individuals with diabetes. However, some aspects of religion and culture, such as beliefs about medications, may also pose challenges or barriers to diabetes self-management. Adherence to medication, food choices, physical activity, and the use of complementary or alternative medicine can be influenced by sociocultural factors. Additionally, cultural beliefs and social norms influence understanding diabetes aetiology, management, and symptom reactions. The findings highlight that it is crucial to understand the cultural, religious, or spiritual influences that can either assist or impede self-management habits in individuals with diabetes and could inform interventions that support personalised and effective care.

Mediation effect of illness acceptance between perceived social support and self-management behaviors in rural elderly with coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between perceived social support, acceptance of illness, and self-management behaviors and the mediating role of acceptance of illness in perceived social support and self-management behaviors.

METHODS

Between August 2022 and February 2023, 731 rural older adults with coronary heart disease in Feicheng City participated in this study. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between variables, and mediating effects were analyzed using AMOS 23.0 software.

RESULTS

Perceived social support and acceptance of illness were positively correlated with self-management behaviors. Acceptance of illness mediated the relationship between the perceived social support and the three dimensions of self-management behavior.

CONCLUSION

These findings contribute to the understanding that increased perceived social support and acceptance of illness are more likely to improve self-management behaviors.

A Descriptive Study of Spiritual Well-Being and Foot Care Practices Administered to Turkish Patients Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes

The aim of the study is the determination of factors affecting the moral well-being of individuals with type 2 diabetes, their foot care behaviors, and the relationship between their spiritual well-being and foot care behaviors. This is a descriptive and relationship-seeking study. The population of the study was comprised of patients with type 2 diabetes who continued their treatment in the same hospital. The sample group consisted of 157 people determined by power analysis (0.05 margin of error, 0.85 power, and 0.447 effect size). For data collection, the Participant Information Form, Spiritual Well-being Scale, and the Foot Care Behavior Scale were used. The mean age of the participants was 59.50 ± 4.858, the body cure index was 29.97 ± 4.233, the foot care awareness score was 51.04 ± 9.884, and the spiritual well-being score was 19.44 ± 7.423. The spiritual well-being subdimension scores were as follows: meaning: 5.17 ± 3.226, belief: 9.79 ± 4.277, and peace and tranquility: 4.48 ± 2.608. Foot care awareness and spiritual well-being scores of the patients were moderate. Individuals' awareness of foot care is affected by their willingness to use medication and to receive education about diabetes; while the income level affects their moral well-being. There is a weak and positive relationship between the two scale scores. It would be appropriate to address the patients spiritually and to provide care with an integrated understanding of care. The adoption of foot care by nurses will make nursing more visible and will be effective for the protection of public health.

Association between effect of acceptance of illness and medication adherence, metabolic control, and risk of diabetic foot in individuals with diabetes

AIMS

This study aimed to determine the association between the level of acceptance of illness and medication adherence, metabolic control, and risk of diabetic foot in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

This descriptive study was conducted with 298 patients with diabetes. The questionnaire comprised the demographic characteristics of the patients, Modified Morisky Scale and the Acceptance of Illness Scale. The study data were collected by the researchers through direct interviews using the questionnaire.

RESULTS

Acceptance of illness in patients with diabetes was statistically significantly higher in the group with a higher level of knowledge of medication adherence (p < 0.001). Moreover, the acceptance of illness had a statistically significant negative correlation with fasting plasma glucose (r = -0.198; p < 0.001) and glycated hemoglobin (r = -0.159; p = 0.006) levels in individuals with diabetes. Levels of acceptance of illness had a statistically significant association with the risk of diabetic foot (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The study found that the level of acceptance of illness was associated with the level of knowledge about medication adherence, metabolic control, and risk of diabetic foot in individuals with diabetes. It may be recommended to conduct clinical trials to determine the effect of evaluating the level of acceptance of the illness on diabetes management and to increase this level.

Potential influences of religiosity and religious coping strategies on people with diabetes

Diabetes is a significant health issue that threatens patients’ overall wellbeing and quality of life. Critical public health concerns center on creating the best approach for diabetes management. Patients and caregivers have different approaches to diabetes management; however, this and the associated physiological, physical and mental health issues remain challenging. This review explores the potential influences of religiosity and religious coping strategies on people with diabetes. This study used a literature review approach to investigate how religiosity and religious coping strategies can influence the effective management of diabetes among patients. Based on the literature search, the researchers were able to identify and cite published papers that were analyzed using the descriptive-narrative analysis. An important goal of the descriptive-narrative analysis was to provide descriptions of the selected literature and take implications from the literature. The results of studies reviewed show some religious coping strategies for managing chronic diseases such as diabetes. The studies did establish a relationship between religiosity and diabetes management and suggest that religious coping strategies could positively impact the management of diabetes; however, they reported some adverse effects. Hence, we propose a pathway for the development of religion-oriented interventions and support framework for the management of diabetes.

The Role of Religion, Spirituality and Fasting in Coping with Diabetes among Indian Migrants in Australia: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Australia has a high proportion of migrants, with an increasing migration rate from India. While many factors influence diabetes self-management among Indian migrants, very little is known about the influence of religious beliefs and spirituality. This study explored the religious beliefs of Indian migrants in Australia and the influence of those beliefs on their diabetes self-management. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 23 Indian migrants. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Most participants believed that prayers helped them alleviate stress and improve diabetes management participants also believed that receiving blessings/prayers from religious leaders prevent or cure diseases including diabetes. There were mixed views on beliefs about using insulin obtained from animal sources. Some participants were concerned about the use of animal-based insulin as it was against their religious beliefs and teachings. Some participants believed that religious fasting does not have any impact on their diabetes while others believed that it can be detrimental to their health. Religious beliefs therefore played an important role in how Indian migrants managed their diabetes. Healthcare professionals should consider their patients' religious beliefs during consultations, enlist support, such as religious scholars, to better address people's misconceptions, and identify strategies for effective diabetes management that consider religious beliefs.