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Illness perceptions and perceived barriers to self-care in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an exploratory study from India

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries volume 35, pages 137–144 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between perceived barriers to self-care, illness perceptions, metabolic control and quality of life. Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged 30–60 years, were recruited from the endocrinology department of a general hospital in Bangalore. They were assessed on the Barriers to Self-Care scale, Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (Revised), Summary of Diabetes-Specific Self-Care Activities. The outcomes were assessed by the brief Diabetes Quality of Life scale and the current glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients and regression analysis. Perceived barriers to self-care were significantly associated with identity, consequence, timeline cyclical, and emotional representation, personal control, treatment control and illness coherence dimensions of illness perceptions. Self-care was associated with personal and treatment control and illness coherence dimensions of illness perceptions. Self-care was positively associated with metabolic control. Barriers to self-care were associated with self-care and were an important predictor of self-care and quality of life. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of social cognitive variables such as illness perceptions, self-efficacy beliefs and perceived barriers in impacting self-care and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. D. K. Subbakrishna for his inputs on the study.

Funding

None

Conflict of interest

None

Author contributions

The paper is based on the academic research carried out by A.M.A. A.M.A. carried out the assessments, wrote the manuscript; P.M.S. supervised the planning of the study and assessments, reviewed and edited the manuscript; M.P. contributed to the statistical analysis of the data and reviewed the manuscript; G.B. screened patients for the study, reviewed the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, American Mission Hospital, P.O.Box 1, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Anisha Mary Abraham

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, India

    Paulomi M. Sudhir

  3. Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, India

    Mariamma Philip

  4. Department of Endocrinology, St. John’s Medical College, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore, 560034, India

    Ganapathi Bantwal

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  1. Anisha Mary Abraham
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  2. Paulomi M. Sudhir
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  3. Mariamma Philip
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  4. Ganapathi Bantwal
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Correspondence to Paulomi M. Sudhir.

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Abraham, A.M., Sudhir, P.M., Philip, M. et al. Illness perceptions and perceived barriers to self-care in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an exploratory study from India. Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries 35 (Suppl 2), 137–144 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-014-0266-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-014-0266-z

Keywords

  • Barriers to self-care
  • Illness perceptions
  • Adherence
  • Self-care
  • Quality of life