Self-efficacy, depression and self-care activities of people with type 2 diabetes in Turkey.

Background: Self-efficacy related to self-care behaviors in people with type 2 diabetes has been well reported. However no work has been reported in Turkey that uses reliable instruments to examine the relationships among self-care activities, depression and self-efficacy.

Aim: This study aims to investigate self-care activities, depression and self-efficacy among people with type 2 diabetes in Turkey.

Methods: The sample included 200 patients with type 2 diabetes from an endocrinology outpatient clinic at a university hospital. Self-care activities, self-efficacy, and symptoms of depression were measured using established instruments: The Summary for Diabetes Self-Care Activities, the Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Descriptive and correlational statistics were used in data analysis.

Findings: One in three (37.5%) of participants had depression symptoms. Beck Depression Inventory scores were higher in women and in those with a lower education level, had diabetic complications and difficulty in meeting health care costs. The mean self-efficacy score was 66.5 ± 14.0; those who lived alone, were unemployed and knew their HbA1c level had significantly higher scores (p < .05). Demographic and diabetes characteristics including age, education, social support, diabetes complications, HbA1c level, and having diabetes education were found to be significantly associated with all self-care activities except smoking.

Conclusion: The association between self-efficacy and self-care activities was positive. Interventions to improve patients’ self-efficacy and self-care are needed in order to maximize diabetes self-management.