The analysis of health behaviours and illness acceptance in patients with diabetes

Background
Presently, diabetes is one of the major problems of healthcare, both in medical and socio-economic terms, in most countries worldwide. A key role in the proper functioning of diabetic patients is played by health behaviors, which result in specific health effects.

Objectives
The analysis of health behaviors and illness acceptance in patients with diabetes

Material and methods
The study was conducted at the National Health Care Centre “KMW Centrum Zdrowia” in Stargard. The study included 215 people aged 30–87 suffering from diabetes. The study was carried out by means of a diagnostic survey method, and the research tool used was a questionnaire. It consisted of three parts, the first of which was the authors’ questionnaire, the second was the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI ), and the third was the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS).

Results
An analysis of the results has shown that the majority of the study sample (59.1%) gained high scores for an increase on health behaviors according to the HBI – approximately 7–10 sten scores. The average level of an overall increase in health behaviors exhibited by the participants (HBI ) amounted to 91.0 ± 14.82 points. The respondents demonstrated similar levels of average results regarding all categories of health behaviors according to the HBI . Data analysis related to illness acceptance has indicated that the average level of illness acceptance of the study subjects amounted to 31.80 ± 7.91 points.

Conclusions
Patients with diabetes showed high levels of health behaviors and illness acceptance, and the results depended upon the subjects’ education, duration of the illness and health education. Females and patients suffering from diabetes for a long period of time require psychological support to resolve disease-related problems, cope with difficulties and develop positive attitudes towards the disease.