Factors Affecting Blood Sugar Control Behavior Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Ramathibodi Hospital

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is one of the important public health problems of Thailand and costs a high
expense for treatment. Therefore, promoting the diabetic patients to take care of themselves for
controlling blood sugar level will be helpful for lowering dangerous complications. This study was a
cross-sectional survey research aiming to investigate the factors affecting blood sugar control behavior
of diabetic patients. The samples were 150 diabetic patients who received health service at the
Diabetic Clinic of the Department of General Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok. The data were
collected by using the interview schedule developed systematically by the researcher. Data analysis
was done by using programmed computer and the descriptive statistics in regard to percentage,
arithmetic mean, and standard deviation were computed. The relationship between variables was
tested by using Chi-square test.
The research results found that there was no relationship between socio-demographic
characteristics in regard to sex, age, marital status, education, income of the sampled diabetic
patients, and knowledge about diabetes and prevention of high blood sugar and their diabetic control
behavior (p>0.05). Significant relationship was found between diabetic control behavior of the sampled
diabetic patients and their perceived self-efficacy in regard to food consumption control, exercise and
taking diabetic medicine (p<0.001). This study recommends that in organizing health promotion
activities for diabetic patients, perceived self-efficacy should be promoted among the diabetic patients
by emphasizing on the development ability and skills in food consumption control, appropriate exercise
and taking diabetic medicine which will help them control their blood sugar effectively.