Abid Samed ÖZEROL, Mustafa ÇELİK, Mehmet Fatih FİŞENK, Şeyma CEYLAN
Türkiye Aile Hekimliği Dergisi - 2026;30(3):171-183
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate illness acceptance and diabetes self-management levels in patients with type 2 diabetes presenting to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Health Sciences University, and to examine the relationship between these levels and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study included 412 diabetes patients who visited the outpatient clinic between March 11 and May 17, 2024. Participants completed a sociodemographic data form, the Acceptance of Illness Scale, and the Diabetes Self-Management Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22. Results: Higher illness acceptance scores were significantly associated with education level (p=0.002), physical activity (p<0.001), dietary adherence (p<0.001), regular hospital visits (p=0.013), no history of hospitalization (p=0.002), pneumococcal (p<0.001) and influenza vaccination (p=0.017), no insulin use (p=0.021), and absence of complications (p<0.001). Higher self-management scores were significantly related to education (p<0.001), physical activity (p<0.001), diabetes education (p<0.001), dietary adherence (p<0.001), hospital visits (p<0.001), pneumococcal and influenza vaccination (p<0.001), insulin history (p=0.001), and absence of chronic diseases (p=0.006). A positive medium correlation was found between illness acceptance and self-management (r=0.448, p<0.001). Conclusion: Educational level and healthy lifestyle behaviors were associated with higher illness acceptance and diabetes self-management levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. In primary care, family physicians should consider these factors when supporting diabetes self-management through individualized care plans. Given the cross-sectional design of the study, these findings indicate associations and should not be interpreted as causal relationships.
