Determination of disease acceptance and diabetes self-care activity levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Aims: In this study, it was aimed to determine the acceptance of the disease and diabetes self-care activity levels of patients after the education given by nurses to 175 male and 129 female diabetes patients living in the northern part of Cyprus. Methods: In the study, a three-stage questionnaire form consisting of the Demographic Information Form including the demographic characteristics of the patient receiving the training, the Disease Acceptance Scale and the Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. Results: Disease acceptance scale scores did not differ statistically significantly according to gender, marital status, income status and with whom the patient lived (p>0.05). The disease acceptance scale was statistically significantly higher in patients with university education and above, employees and patients with social security (p<0.05). Diet dimension differed significantly according to gender and marital status (p<0.05); exercise dimension differed significantly according to education and employment status (p<0.05). There is a significant positive correlation between the disease acceptance score and the CBA diet (ß=.179, p<.01) and CBA exercise (ß=.153, p<.01). There is a significant negative correlation between the disease acceptance score and the number of years ago diagnosis (ß=-.214, p<.01), cholesterol level (ß=-.187, p<.01) and age variables (ß=-.170, p<.01). Conclusion: Acceptance of the disease was found to increase with education level. In case of disease acceptance, it was found that diet and exercise, which are the most important self-care activities of diabetes management, were managed appropriately and disease acceptance decreased with increasing age. In this case, the importance of education on disease management was revealed in order to maintain a positive disease acceptance status years after the diagnosis of the disease.