Abstract
This research study was conducted on 204 non-insulin dependent diabetes patients
to assess their behavior and the relationship between supporting factors, by making
practical use of the theory of the PRECEDE Model of Lawrence Green, which involves
studying cross-sectional data collected by survey, using structural interviews. The study population (n = 204) was obtained by simple random sampling from the non-insulin
dependent diabetes patients attending the diabetes clinic in the period June 1-30, 2006.
Descriptive data were submitted for Pearson’s coefficient and multiple regression analyses. The results were that the behavior in controlling the blood glucose level among
non-insulin dependent diabetes patients was at a moderate level. Knowledge of diabetes
(p<0.01), perceived susceptibility to diabetes (p<0.01), perceived severity of diabetes
(p<0.01), benefits and cost of following the advice and suggestions of health officers
(p<0.01), the skill of a diabetic (p<0.01), and promotion by spouse, parents, relatives, siblings, neighbors, co-workers, doctors, nurses and public health officers (p<0.01) are positively and statistically significant related to the behavior of blood glucose level control.
The results of the stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors affecting
the behavior of blood glucose level control in non-insulin dependent diabetes patients
can be promoted by their spouses, parents, relatives, siblings, neighbors, co-workers,
doctors, nurses and public health officers (p<0.001) and the benefits and cost of following
the advice and suggestions of public health officers (p<0.01). The two variances were in
line with the prediction at 12.90% (R
2
=0.129). Information obtained from the present
study suggests that the use of certain health strategies, such as meetings, trainings, movies, slides, videos, and showing actual data, would enable the patients to gain more knowledge about the complication of diabetes which might occur in them. Such strategies
could also give knowledge to their family members (spouses, siblings, as well as public
heath volunteers of the village, and community leaders), and lead to the establishment of
a diabetes club in their village. Such steps would encourage the patients to take control of
their blood glucose levels so that thay become normal or near normal.
