Diabetes Self-Management and Health Care Demand Procrastination Behavior Among Earthquake Victims with Type 2 Diabetes in Earthquake Zone

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this descriptive study was to assess diabetes self-management and health care demand procrastination behaviors among earthquake victims with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The population of the study consisted of earthquake victims with Type 2 diabetes in Hatay, Türkiye. The sample included 202 people with type 2 diabetes who lived in 7 distinct container cities. Data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, Diabetes Self-Management Scale, and Healthcare Demand Procrastination Scale via face-to-face interviews. Results Participants' average score on the diabetes self-management scale was 58.34 ± 9.11. Being under the age of 60, employed, visiting a medical center on their own, having received diabetes education, and owning a glucometer were associated with better diabetes self-management, whereas being illiterate and having difficulty covering diabetes-related expenses were associated with poor diabetes management (P < 0.05). Participants' average score on the Healthcare Demand Procrastination Scale was 2.35 ± 0.72. Respondents who didn't have a nearby health care institution, whose diabetes diagnosis duration was between 1-5 years, and who didn't have a glucometer had significantly higher scores on the Healthcare Demand Procrastination Scale (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Diabetes self-management among earthquake victims with Type 2 diabetes was low. It was also determined that participants' health care demand procrastination behaviors were at a moderate level.