The influence of emotions and healthcare provider interactions on self-management behavior and HbA1c in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional descriptive study

Purpose: This study examined the effects of emotional experiences and interactions with healthcare providers on self-management behaviors and glycemic control, as measured by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 120 patients recruited from six local clinics between April 12 and July 15, 2021.Data were collected using the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, the Client Satisfaction Tool, the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire, and HbA1c measurements.Descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 31.0.Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.06 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 7.79 years.Hierarchical regression analysis showed that interactions with healthcare providers and smoking status explained 11.0% of the variance in self-management behaviors.Negative emotion, sex, presence of diabetic complications, and smoking status explained 27.0% of the variance in HbA1c levels.Conclusion: Negative emotions and the quality of interactions with healthcare providers were significant factors associated with self-management behaviors and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.These findings highlight the need for early identification of high-risk patients and for comprehensive management strategies that incorporate psychological support and smoking cessation interventions.In addition, regular, individualized education and feedback, together with empathetic communication that acknowledges patients' emotional experiences, may be important components of effective diabetes care.