Factors influencing self-care behavior of socio-economically disadvantaged diabetic patients: A systematic review

Assessment of the relationship between self-efficacy criteria and rate of lower limb amputation in diabetic patients; a cross-sectional study

Background

According to the high prevalence of diabetes Mellitus (DM), as a harmful metabolic disease, the adoption of self-care (SC) behaviors along with modern medications seems necessary for diabetes Mellitus patients (DMPs). Since self-efficacy (SE) affects the quality of SC behaviors in DMPs to prevent limb amputation as one of the most common DM-related complications, the present study aimed to investigate the probable relationship between the effect of the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy (DMSE) with limb amputation rate in DMPs.

Methods

DMPs with ages of 18-65 years were selected and divided into two groups of the case (DMPs with experiences of DM ≥ 4 years and limb amputation, n = 300), and control (DMPs with no experience of limb amputation, n = 600). Data were collected through demographics, clinical checklists, and the DMSES tool, and were analyzed using SPSS (v.25).

Results

The mean age of DMPs was 55.2 ± 8.2 years, and 59.3% and 40.7% of patients had type I and type II DM, respectively. A significant relationship was found between the mean of DMSES in terms of groups of the case (Mean: 60.6) and control (mean 67.7) (P = 0.001), living place, education, family background in non-close relatives, underlying disease, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and the type of DM. The odds ratio (OR) of amputation was also found higher in DMPs with a lower mean of DMSES OR = 1.03, CI 95%=1.01-1.04, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

In this study, DMSE had a significant relationship with reducing limb amputation rate in DMPs. Furthermore, The average self-efficacy score according to gender, place of residence, education, family history in non-close relatives, underlying disease, and type of diabetes was significantly difference. It is suggested, that self-efficacy would be enhanced through systematic education in diabetes clinics.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01331-0.

Level of and factors associated with foot self-care among people with diabetes in Idlib Province of Northwest Syria: A cross-sectional study

Background and aims

Diabetic foot and lower limb problems are among the most neglected complications during the Syrian armed conflict due to the absence of a functioning health infrastructure, including early detection and timely management of limb-threatening wounds. This study aimed to determine self-reported diabetes-related foot disease (DRFD), adherence to recommended foot self-care (FSC) practices, and associated factors among people with diabetes in war-torn Northwest Syria (NWS).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted at six primary care clinics in Idlib, NWS, between March 27 and April 17, 2022, utilizing the validated interviewer-administered Diabetes Foot Disease and Foot Care Questionnaire. Data on demographic characteristics, DRFD, and FSC practices were collected. FSC score was determined by adding the points from all 12 FSC items, with a maximum score of 48, and were categorized into very poor (≤12), poor (13-24), moderate (25-36), and good (37-48). A convenience sample of 331 consecutive Syrians, aged ≥18 years, with diabetes, were invited. Multiple linear regression was used to identify variables associated with FSC practices.

Results

A total of 328 patients completed the questionnaire (response rate: 99.1%). The overall FSC score was average (mean total score 27.24, SD 7.03). Over one-third (37.8%) had a very poor/poor score, 50.3% had an average score, and 11.9% had a good score. Household income/month of ≥51 USD (β = 2.6, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]:1.06-4.1, p = 0.001) and diabetes duration of ≥10 years (β = 1.8, 95% Cl: 0.2-3.4, p = 0.027) significantly predicted better FSC practice.

Conclusion

A significant proportion of participants had inadequate adoption FSC behaviors. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with better FSC practices. Future research should evaluate diabetic foot education and professional foot care in this population.

Exploring self-care and cervical cancer prevention attitudes and practices among Moroccan and Pakistani immigrant women in Catalonia, Spain: a comparative qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Self-care and preventive health strategies may trigger health inequities when individuals' cultural values and health beliefs are not fully understood and considered. In the case of cervical cancer (CC) screening programs immigrant women have shown lower attendance compared with native women, which increases the risk of late diagnosis and, consequently, a lower probability of survival. HPV self-sampling for CC screening has been recently added to the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of self-care interventions as a promising tool to reduce this disparity and improve screening coverage. In Catalonia, Spain, the introduction of HPV self-sampling as a part of the new population-based CC screening program, is a significant step. However, there is a lack of research addressing self-care and prevention among immigrant populations in this region. This study aims to fill this gap exploring self-care and prevention attitudes and practices among Moroccan and Pakistani women.

METHODS

We conducted focus groups and individual interviews with 36 Moroccan and 37 Pakistani women in Barcelona, Spain. The topic guide of the focus groups included case vignettes to stimulate the discussion and a semi-structured questionnaire was used for the interviews.

RESULTS

Our findings show that most Moroccan and Pakistani women do not prioritize self-care and prevention. They seek care for symptom treatment rather than disease prevention. In this sense, they reported not having the habit of doing regular check-ups and their self-care and prevention attitudes and practices seemed to be conditioned by cultural values. The implementation of an effective call and recall system could enhance the engagement of these populations with CC screening services.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence on how universal concepts of self-care and prevention may not aligned with more collectivist societies, emphasizing the limited applicability and motivation of global self-care interventions guidelines for individuals with different cultural backgrounds and values. Therefore, the successful implementation of CC screening programs or any other self-care intervention requires the adoption of culturally appropriate strategies.