Assessment of Self-Care Activities Using Diabetes SelfManagement Questionnaire (DSMQ) amongst Diabetes Patients Attending a Rural Health Training Centre in Lucknow

Abstract

BACKGROUND Hyperglycaemia is the main cause for diabetes related complications. Though a number of factors add to the blood glucose, it is broadly known that proper selfmanagement activities reduce the risk in diabetic patients. This study was conducted to assess the self-care activities and their adherence amongst the diabetic patients attending the RHTC, IIMSR Lucknow. METHODS This cross-sectional study involved 92 previously diagnosed diabetic patients attending the outpatient department of rural health training centre, Integral Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Lucknow, from December 2017 to August 2018. Data was collected by personal interviews using diabetes self-management questionnaire (DSMQ). SPSS software version 16.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS All patients were aged between 40 to 65 years and males were higher in proportion (56.0 %). About 96.3 % subjects took diabetes medication as prescribed and 88.9 % subjects recorded their blood sugar levels regularly. Nearly 77.8 % did consistent exercise to accomplish optimal blood sugar stages & 96.3 percent took the dietary advice given by investigator. About two-third patients avoided physical activity although they knew that it would improve their diabetes goal. About one third patients forgot or skipped their diabetes medication. The subscales of health-care use showed negative average intra class correlation. Mean score of subscale glucose management was maximum as compared to other subscales. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that the DSMQ enables an efficient assessment of selfcare activities and their adherence among diabetes patients. Adherence to the treatment of diabetes and lifestyle modifications is the need of the hour. KEY WORDS DSMQ, Diabetes, Self-Care Activities, Cross-Sectional, Intra Class Correlation