Self‐efficacy and self‐care behavior of Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross sectional survey

This study investigated the association between self‐efficacy and self‐care behavior to determine the degree of self‐efficacy and to examine differences in self‐efficacy according to patient variables, including state of health, of Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes. The sample comprised 388 patients (respondents). We collected the data from December 2010 to February 2011. We found a significant positive relationship between self‐efficacy and self‐care behavior (r_s = 0.481, P < 0.001). The degree of self‐efficacy was moderately high (mean = 7.570). We found significant differences between self‐efficacy and education level (Wilk's Lambda = 0.918, F[12, 1008] = 2.779, P < 0.05), duration of diabetes (Wilk's Lambda = 0.954, F[8, 736] = 2.264, P < 0.05), other chronic conditions (Wilk's Lambda = 0.967, F[4, 383] = 3.304, P < 0.05) and diabetic complications (Wilk's Lambda = 0.963, F[4, 383] = 3.653, P < 0.05). Self‐efficacy can be used as a model to understand self‐care behavior. Individualized nursing interventions based on self‐efficacy theory should be utilized in high risk diabetic patients so as to assist and improve self‐care behavior.     

Conceptualization and Nursing Implications of Self‐Imposed Activity Limitation Among Community‐Dwelling Elders

ABSTRACT The purposes of this paper are to explore, from a theoretical perspective, explanations for why some community‐dwelling elders self‐impose activity limitations (SIALs); to develop an integrated explanation for SIAL from a nursing perspective; and to identify some clinical implications of relevance to public health nursing practice. Activity limitation is an important risk factor for functional decline, morbidity, and mortality among community‐dwelling elders. Many studies have focused on disease and environmental influences on activity limitations. The intrinsic processes associated with voluntary or SIAL in old age among otherwise physically and mentally capable elders are poorly understood and little studied. The conceptualization of SIAL provides nurses with an understanding of an understudied aging phenomenon and helps nurses understand how elders see activities related to their life priorities. The conceptual framework will facilitate future qualitative and quantitative study of SIAL, assist nurses in the development of a new gerontological nursing theory, and design of interventions for elders with activity limitations. Public health nurses with a better understanding of SIAL may be able to help elders improve or maintain their independence.