Self-Care Management in Patients Diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus Attended Primary Health Care Facilities in Baghdad
Abstract
Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by the presence of chronic hyperglycemia accompanied by greater or lesser impairment in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.
Objectives: To study the self-care management of patients diagnosed with diabetic’s mellitus and to find-out the socio-demographic characteristics among diabetes mellitus patients attended primary health care facilities in Baghdad c.
Methods: A descriptive analytical cross-sectional study design was carried out to study the self- care management among diabetes mellitus patients attending primary health care facilities in Baghdad City. Two hundred patient’s selected purposively from (6) primary health care centers throughout the use of non-probability sampling approach. Questionnaire was constructed and modified after reviewing and reading the available literature and studies, it was composed of three parts. The total number of questions for this tool was (28). The data was collected for the period from 1/12/2020 to 1/2/2021 to answer the items which was prepped for this purpose. The data was analyzed by using simple statistical analysis which included tables, frequencies and percentages to assess the results of the study.
Results: The main important results were the majority of the studied sample were between (50-59) years old, most of the studied sample were illiterate, majority of sample stated that their monthly income were not enough, more than half of them were having history of chronic diseases (67%), more than half of the studied sample were eating high fatty food (60%), majority of the studied sample were taking care of their feet properly (93%).
Conclusions: More than half of the studied sample were following a healthful eating plan through visiting primary health care facilities, more than half of them eating high fatty food. The highest percentages of the studied sample were not wearing a shoe for diabetes foot. The highest percentages of the studied sample under study (90%) were taking recommended diabetes medication.
Recommendations: The study recommended a wide range of educational strategies need to be planned to correct some misconceptions toward self-care of the disease like treatment, foot care, and educational materials or programs designed to assist patients in performing the actions that reduce the burden of the condition. All diabetic patients need to focus on instructional sessions about management for diabetes mellitus patients and instructional intervention programs to be implemented at all primary health care facilities in Baghdad.
