title: Social support and self-management capabilities in diabetes patients: An international observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to explore which aspects of social networks are related to self-management capabilities and if these networks have the potential to reduce the adverse health effects of deprivation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study we recruited type 2 diabetes patients in six European countries. Data on self-management capabilities was gathered through written questionnaires and data on social networks characteristics and social support through subsequent personal/telephone interviews. We used regression modelling to assess the effect of social support and education on self-management capabilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total 1692 respondents completed the questionnaire and the interview. Extensive informational networks, emotional networks, and attendance of community organisations were linked to better self-management capabilities. The association of self-management capabilities with informational support was especially strong in the low education group, whereas the association with emotional support was stronger in the high education group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some of the social network characteristics showed a positive relation to self-management capabilities. The effect of informational support was strongest in low education populations and may therefore provide a possibility to reduce the adverse impact of low education on self-management capabilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-management support interventions that take informational support in patients' networks into account may be most effective, especially in deprived populations.
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of IQ Healthcare, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jan.koetsenruijter@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koetsenruijter
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of IQ Healthcare, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Eikelenboom
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of IQ Healthcare, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Lieshout
authors.affiliation: NIHR Wessex CLAHRC, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Hampshire, UK.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vassilev
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lionis
authors.affiliation: Department of Economic Sociology, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Elka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Todorova
authors.affiliation: NIHR Wessex CLAHRC, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Hampshire, UK.
authors.forename: Mari Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Portillo
authors.affiliation: University of Oslo, Institute for Health and Society, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foss
authors.affiliation: Education, Health and Society Foundation, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serrano Gil
authors.affiliation: Department of Economic Sociology, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Poli
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roukova
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Agapi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angelaki
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Agurtzane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mujika
authors.affiliation: University of Oslo, Institute for Health and Society, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingrid Ruud
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Knutsen
authors.affiliation: NIHR Wessex CLAHRC, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Hampshire, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of IQ Healthcare, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wensing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Deprivation; Health education; Health inequalities; HeiQ; Self care; Self-management capabilities; Social support; Type 2 diabetes