Factors Related to Diabetes Self-Care Management Behaviors Among Patients with Type II Diabetes in Palestine

This study aims to assess factors related to self–care management through conducting a cross–sectional study. A personal interview using structured questionnaires together with a medical records review sought information about socio–demographic, clinical characteristics, healthcare system factors, and self–care management. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried–out by SPSS v16. Three hundred and thirty patients were recruited. The mean ± standard deviation age of participants was 60±9.7 years, 51.2% were male, 88.5% had additional chronic diseases, and 46.1% were obese. The multivariate analysis showed that being married, overweight, and obese were significantly related to decreased odds of follow diabetic meal plan, increased diabetes duration was significantly related to increased odds of follow diabetic meal plan. Increased number of additional chronic diseases was significantly related to decreased odds of physical exercise participation. Being married and not receiving insulin treatment were significantly related to decreased odds of self–blood glucose monitoring. Female participants were significantly related to decreased odds of medication adherence, and increased diabetes duration was significantly related to increased odds of medication adherence. Further investigation and improvement of inappropriate self–care management, and educational programmes would be of great benefit in achieving self–care management improvement.