Self-Care Ability of Diabetic Patients Referring to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Clinics

The most important strategy for controlling diabetes is self-care. This study aimed to determine self-care ability of people with diabetes who referred to clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. In this descriptive-analytical study, 350 diabetic patients referred to Clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were evaluated in 2015. Data were collected using Tubert, et al (2000) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.23 software and chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests. The results showed that 93.1% of the participants in the study were type II diabetes. The self-care capacity mean of the research units was moderate (3.4 of 7). The most commonly used self-care behavior was the timely use of medications (5.79 of 7), with less general physical activity, exercise, and continuous examination of shoes. Variables such as age, gender, history of illness and education showed a significant relationship with self-care capacity of individuals. Also, the highest monitoring of the complications of the disease was related to performing HbA1c test (in 78.6% of samples). Referring to ophthalmology, dentistry and flu vaccine accounted for a smaller percentage. Considering the important role of self-care activities in controlling diabetes, physicians need to plan and implement their patient’s self-care behaviors during interventions by examining their self-care behaviors and determining their self-care needs.