title: A population study of the self-care behaviors and their associated factors of diabetes in Taiwan: results from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes has been the fifth leading cause of death in Taiwan since 1987, and the complications are a burden to the patients, their families, and society.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the self-control behaviors of diabetics and associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this study came from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan. Subjects with diabetes confirmed by medical professionals, aged 40 years or older, were included. Self-care behaviors included any of the following: taking medicine regularly, reducing weight, avoiding cigarettes or alcohol, exercising, practicing diet control, and maintaining a regular life style and avoiding late hours. The factors considered were demographic factors including age, sex, education, income, and health behavior factors including smoking, drinking alcohol, chewing betel nuts, and health conditions such as existence of other chronic diseases, limitation of activity of daily living (ADL), and self-perceived health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 764 subjects aged 40 years or older who were diagnosed with diabetes. Logistic regression showed that females, those with older age or chronic disease such as hypertension or dyslipidemia, and those with long duration of diabetes took medicine regularly. Old age group, middle school educated, and longer duration of the disease had a higher chance of using any self-care method than their counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attention should be given to the younger age group, shorter duration of the disease in practicing self-care of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Policy Research, National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan. hsingyi@nhri.or.tw
authors.forename: Hsing-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chii-Jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Ming-Chu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shu-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tong-Yuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin