Diabetes Self-Efficacy and Associated Factors among People Living with Diabetes in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

With the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) globally, including in Nigeria, self-care practices are universally recognized as imperative to keeping the illness under control and preventing complications. It is important to determine how competent patients feel about managing their diabetes; as well as their psychosocial adjustment. Self-efficacy measures these important aspects of diabetes care and act as a guide to health professionals on how best to tailor diabetes education and support. There is a dearth of studies on self-efficacy and associated influences, among people living with diabetes in Nigeria. Hence, this study was carried out to fill the lacunae. This descriptive study was carried out at the Out-patient Clinic of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, among 235 people receiving treatment for diabetes. A total sampling of all available patients who provided consent at the time of data collection was done. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire consisting of a section on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics including fasting blood glucose; followed by a section on diabetes self-efficacy. Diabetes self-efficacy was measured using the validated and adapted Michigan Diabetes Empowerment scale (DES). Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Ibadan/University College Hospital Institutional Review Board (UI/UCH IRB). Data were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 20. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean, independent t-test and Pearson’s correlation at α 0.05. Participants were predominantly women (60.9%) and had a mean age of 59.3 ± 14.0 years. More than half of the participants (55%) had a high self-efficacy level. Educational level and having a family member who is a nurse or a doctor were significantly associated with high self-efficacy. Fasting blood glucose level was negatively correlated with self-efficacy and the domain of managing the psychological aspect of diabetes. A good percentage of people living with diabetes had high self-efficacy, which was influenced by educational level and having a health professional as a relative. Those with high self-efficacy had better glucose control. It is recommended that individually-tailored diabetes education be provided for people with poorly controlled glucose level.