Adherence to and factors associated with self-care behaviours in type 2 diabetes patients in Ghana.
BACKGROUND
Previous research has failed to examine more than one self-care behaviour in type 2 diabetes patients in Ghana. The purpose of this study is to investigate adult Ghanaian type 2 diabetes patients' adherence to four self-care activities: diet (general and specific), exercise, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and foot care.


METHODS
Consenting type 2 diabetes patients attending diabetes outpatient clinic appointments at three hospitals in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana completed a cross-sectional survey comprising the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure, and questions about demographic characteristics and diabetes history. Height and weight were also measured. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors associated with adherence to each of the four self-care behaviours.


RESULTS
In the last 7 days, participants exercised for a mean (SD) of 4.78 (2.09) days and followed diet, foot care and SMBG for a mean (SD) of 4.40 (1.52), 2.86 (2.16) and 2.15 (0.65) days, respectively. More education was associated with a higher frequency of reported participation in exercise (r = 0.168, p = 0.022), following a healthy diet (r = 0.223, p = 0.002) and foot care (r = 0.153, p = 0.037) in the last 7 days. Males reported performing SMBG (r = 0.198, p = 0.007) more frequently than their female counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence to diet, SMBG and checking of feet were relatively low. People with low education and women may need additional support to improve adherence to self-care behaviours in this type 2 diabetes population.
Department of Health Professions Education, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1883, Tamale, Ghana. vmogre@uds.edu.gh.|School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. vmogre@uds.edu.gh.
Victor
V
Mogre
Department of Community Nutrition, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Zakaria Osman
ZO
Abanga
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Locked bag 1000, New Lambton, NSW, 2305, Australia.|Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Locked Mail Bag 10, Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia.
Flora
F
Tzelepis
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
Natalie A
NA
Johnson
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, Locked bag 1000, New Lambton, NSW, 2305, Australia.
Christine
C
Paul
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D000070497:Healthy Lifestyle; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
D001786:Blood Glucose
Adherence; Body weight; Diabetes; Ghana; Self-care behaviours