Year: 2025 | Month: November | Volume: 15 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 222-230
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20251127
Self-Care Practices and Their Predictors Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending the General Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Abhipsa Dey1, Kuntala Ray2
1Department of Community Medicine,
1Senior Resident, 2Professor & HOD
IPGME&R, Kolkata, India.
Corresponding Author: Prof. (Dr). Kuntala Ray
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Self-care practices (SCP) are essential for effective management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and for preventing its complications. However, adherence to these practices remains suboptimal, especially in resource-limited settings. Understanding predictors of good SCP can inform targeted interventions.
Objective: To assess the self-care practices and identify their predictors among T2DM patients attending the general outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 218 diagnosed T2DM patients aged ≥18 years attending the diabetes clinic of IPGME & R and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata. Participants were selected using consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested, pre-designed structured schedule based on the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) scale. Good self-care practice was defined as scoring above the median across all domains. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of good SCP.
Results: The prevalence of good overall self-care practices was 56%. Adherence was highest in medication (94.8%) and lowest in blood glucose monitoring (22.1%). Multivariable logistic regression identified age ≥52 years (aOR: 3.25; 95% CI: 1.90–5.24), female gender (aOR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.03–3.12), education above secondary level (aOR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.05–3.50), urban residence (aOR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.24–4.73), and controlled CBG (<180 mg/dL) (aOR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.12–5.43) as significant predictors of good SCP.
Conclusion: Just over half of the T2DM patients exhibited good self-care practices, with notable deficiencies in diet, exercise, and glucose monitoring. Sociodemographic and clinical factors significantly influenced self-care behaviors, underscoring the need for tailored educational and behavioral interventions.
Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, self-care practices, predictors, SDSCA, tertiary care,