Social support and self-care activities among the elderly patients with diabetes in Kelantan

• Published in: Malaysian Family Physician
• Main Author: 2-s2.0-84938060838
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia 2015
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84938060838&partnerID=40&md5=b8f8824a8b6d8946b50ae9264813aea1

Introduction: Diabetes is common among the elderly and can significantly affect their lives including the issues related with social support and diabetic self-care activities. Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the social support and self-care activities among the elderly patients with diabetes. Methods: A survey involving 200 patients was conducted from March 2013 to May 2013 in three hospitals in Kelantan. Data were obtained through self-administered questionnaires and clinical characteristics were acquired from the patients’ records. Results: The scores for social support (mean = 19.26; SD = 2.63) and self-care activities (mean = 14.83; SD = 4.92) were moderate. Higher social support was associated with high levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood sugar (FBS) level, the duration of diabetes and a decrease in body mass index (BMI) (p<0.05). It was observed that the patients with low educational, Hb1Ac and FBS level, with other chronic diseases and who have had diabetes for some time had low self-care activities (p<0.05). There was a significant negative relationship between an increase in social support and decrease in self-care activity (p<0.05). Conclusion: Healthcare providers, family and friends have to strengthen their relationship with the elderly patients with diabetes to provide more social support and promote the compliance with diabetic self-care activities to improve clinical outcomes. © 2015, Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia. All rights reserved.