What Shapes Diabetes Self-Efficacy? Demographics, Social Relations and Health Perceptions

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine how demographic factors, social conditions, and health perceptions shape Diabetes Self-Efficacy (DSE) in order to enhance diabetes self-management. Methods: This article reports the results of a survey of 97 type 2 diabetes patients in a primary health care clinic located east of Toronto (Canada). Regression analyses examined the relationship between self-reported healths, self-reported A1C, social capital, social support, MD support, household income, education, gender, age, and time since diagnosis and DSE. Results: Social capital, social support, MD support, income, and age showed no significant relationship to DSE. Gender, time since diagnosis, and education showed a significant association to DSE. Perceived health variables self-reported A1C and self-reported health showed the strongest relationship to DSE. Implications: The survey results suggest a potentially fruitful line of research that might examine a feedback mechanism that appears to be at play whereby DSE affects perceived health and perceived A1C, while the latter, over time, influence DSE. The paper then suggests a follow-up protocol that future research may employ to discern the nature and strength of the feedback mechanisms implied by the results. Improved understanding of how and to what extent this feedback mechanism operates will have significant consequences for how information is delivered to patients to encourage improvements in DSE and self-management behaviours.