Evaluation of Self-care Status and Related Factors in Older People with Type 2 Diabetes in Hamadan City

Background and Objective: Diabetes, as one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among the elderly, necessitates control and self-care. The present study aimed to determine the self-care status and associated factors in older people with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Hamadan City (Iran) in 2024. The study sample consisted of 253 elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes selected from health service centers and specialized diabetes clinics using a convenience sampling method. The tool for collecting data was a researcher-made questionnaire, the validity and reliability of which had been confirmed by a panel of experts and Cronbach's alpha of 0.82. The obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS (version 22) software, employing relevant statistical tests, with a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: The average age of the patients was 69.00±6.76 years, with 129 participants being male. In addition, approximately 34% experienced a university education, and most were retired (39.5%). Males, individuals aged 60 to 65 years, married ones, those with higher education, retirees, those with appropriate economic status, and those undergoing dietary treatment scored higher on knowledge (P-value<0.05). Additionally, men exhibited more positive attitudes than women; individuals aged 60 to 65 years, those with higher education levels, those with better economic status, and employees also showed more favorable attitudes (P-value<0.05). Conclusion: The results demonstrated that an increase in knowledge and favorable attitudes significantly affected the self-care behaviors of older people with type 2 diabetes. However, none of the demographic, economic, and disease-related variables had a significant effect on the adoption of self-care behaviors.