Causal Model of Self-care Based on Social Support and Health Literacy Through Self-efficacy in Managing Diabetes in Diabetic Patients

Considering the importance and high prevalence of diabetes, it is necessary to consider the factors related to self-care in these patients in order to improve the health of the community. Regarding this, the present research was conducted to examine the causal model of self-care based on social support and health literacy through self-efficacy in the management of diabetes among diabetic patients.

This study was conducted on 190 patients with diabetes mellitus referring to the endocrinologists in Tehran, Iran, in 2018. The study population was selected through convenience sampling method. The data were collected using the Social Support, Health Literacy, Self-Efficacy in Diabetes Management, and Diabetes Self-care Questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling method.

The results showed significantly direct relationships between health literacy and self-care (β=0.18, P≤0.01), between social support and self-care (β=0.15, P≤0.05), between self-efficacy in the management of diabetes and self-care (β=0.39, P≤0.01) between health literacy and self-efficacy in managing diabetes (β=0.25, P≤0.01), and between social support and self-efficacy in diabetes management (β=0.25, P≤0.01). In addition, self-care showed indirect relationships with health literacy (0.09=β, P≤0.01) and social support (β=0.09, P≤0.01) through self-efficacy in the management of diabetes.

As the findings indicated, health literacy and social support were effective not only in the management of diabetes through self-efficacy but also in self-care behaviors in diabetic patients.