Illness Perceptions and Quality of Life in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Abstract

One of the treatment objectives in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is improving their quality of life (QoL). Illness perceptions are major determinant of QOL. This study was aimed to evaluate the QoL of T2DM patients with complications, and to examine the correlation between patients' illness perceptions and QoL. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a private hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from July to September 2015. We recruited adult patients with a diagnosis of T2DM with complications (ICD E.11) that has been diagnosed for at least 3 months. Illness perceptions were assessed with the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), and diabetes type 2 specific QoL with the Diabetes Quality of Life for Clinical Trial Questionnaire (DQLCTQ). Data was analyzed using Pearson correlation test. We recruited 51 T2DM patients. Female patients were dominant and most of the subjects experienced T2DM more than 5 years. The BIPQ scores indicated that patients had positive perceptions about T2DM and the treatment in all domains, except for coherence. Scores on the DQLCTQ showed that T2DM patients' QoL is good, except for the self satisfaction and treatment effect. Statistically significant positive correlations were observed between BIPQ dimensions of personal control, treatment control and coherence and QoL domains (p<0.01). Moreover, the strong negative correlation were observed between consequences, concern and emotional response and QoL domains (p<0.01). However, 92% correlations are weak. Illness perceptions are correlated with T2DM patients' QoL. Interventions aimed to get more adaptive illness perceptions may impact positively on QoL.