The Relationships among Personal Factors, Stress and Depression Levels, and Glycemic Control among Uncontrolled Diabetic Patients

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive research aimed to study stress and depression level, and examine the relationship among personal factors, mental health factors and glycemic control in diabetic patients with uncontrolled glycemic level at a non-communicable disease clinic of Buntharik Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Sample was 207 uncontrolled diabetic patients. The sample size was determined using G* Power analysis software. The research tools were a general information questionnaire, a stress assessment form, and a depression screening form. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the stress assessment form was .93. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression statistics. Results were as follows.

1. The research found that more than half of the sample (59.42%) had stress at a low level, while 35.75 percent had a normal level of stress, and only 5.46 percent had depression.

2. Female diabetic patients (ORadj=2.49, 95%CI: 1.25-4.96), diabetic patients under 60 years old (ORadj=2.28, 95%CI: 1.17-4.86), morbidity (ORadj=5.20, 95%CI: 1.49-16.88) and patients with baseline treatment rights (ORadj=2.58, 95%CI: 1.07-6.24) were significantly correlated with the control of cumulative blood glucose in uncontrolled diabetes patients (p< .05). There was no relationship among duration of suffering from diabetes mellitus, history of admission in the hospital, cost of follow-up treatment, caregivers, stress, depression, and the glycemic control.

Therefore, a specific patient care system could be designed for different groups. In addition, there should be a search for problems or factors affecting the inability to control blood glucose in diabetic cases. The further studies should be on the relationship between health behaviors and the control of blood sugar levels.