PAPER #44 - The evaluation of knowledge level and motivational components in patients with diabetes and their relationship to glycemic control.

Problem Statement: Diabetes is a disease often associated with secondary morbidity and mortality. Patients with diabetes are at increased risk for complications of the disease. Many of these complications can be prevented by an appropriate diabetes management. Purpose of Study:The study examines the knowledge level and motivational profile of people with diabetes. The study seeks to answer the question whether in the knowledge of diabetes and in the motivational profile can be identified differences and similarities between diabetics in relation to the quality of glucose metabolism, so that we can define some characteristics needed for a proper self-care. Research Methods:The study sample consists of 167 (N = 167) of type 2 diabetic participants. Subjects were divided in two subgroups, depending on glycemic control, homogeneous by age, sex and education. Participants were asked to provide biographical data and some details from the medical records (last known values for glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)). In the next step the patients were asked to complete the following questionnaires: Diabetic Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ -24) and the Self- Determination Theory Questionnaire Packet for Diabetes (TSRQ -D, PCDS, HCCQ - D). Findings: The results show that there is no significant negative association between knowledge of diabetes and glycaemic control (HbA1c), although the data showed no association between glycaemic control and knowledge. We investigated the motivational profile of the persons with diabetes based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT, autonomy, competence, relationship). Our data do not fit in all respects to those of the original model from the U.S., being unable to reproduce the exact structure of the original model. In the last stage, we investigated the inter-relationship between knowledge related to diabetes and motivational profile of people with diabetes in relation to glycaemic control. The results show a strong association between diabetes-related knowledge and autonomy index. Pearson correlation indices show a tendency of negative association between controlled regulation and the knowledge of diabetes. Conclusions:We assume that the disease knowledge alone is not enough to manage the glycemic control without appropriate motivation dimensions. This needs further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]