Illness perceptions among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross‐sectional study.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate illness perceptions and their predictors among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A descriptive, correlational, and exploratory design was used. The Chinese version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire was modified and used to collect data between September 2016 and February 2017. Results: On average, patients recognized fewer than five of the 14 common symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Of the six causal factors, "dietary behaviours" had the highest mean score, while "psychological factors" had the lowest score. Most patients lacked understanding of type 2 diabetes mellitus. They perceived it as a chronic and stable illness, without negative affective response, and controllable by themselves and through treatment. Gender, age, marital status, educational level, family income, employment status, diabetes duration, diabetes‐related complications, comorbid conditions, number of hospital admissions, and the level of haemoglobin A1c were predictors of illness perceptions. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that the illness perceptions of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes should be improved. This evidence may enrich the theoretical understanding of illness perceptions and be used to develop interventions for enhancing illness perceptions in such patients. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Diabetes has become a global epidemic and poses a major risk in terms of morbidity and mortality.Illness perceptions significantly influence the lifestyle and behavioural choices of individuals; this concept has been employed as part of an effective mechanism to improve behavioural change and health outcomes.Few studies have examined illness perceptions among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. What this paper adds? Of the 14 common symptoms of type 2 diabetes, Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes recognized fewer than five, on average.The patients lacked understanding of their illness, frequently believing that smoking was not related to their illness.Socio‐demographic factors (including gender, age, marital status, educational level, family income, and employment status) and clinical factors (including diabetes duration, diabetes‐related complications, comorbid conditions, number of hospital admissions, and level of haemoglobin A1c) are predictors of illness perceptions among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The implications of this paper: The findings provide evidence regarding illness perceptions among Chinese diabetic patients, which adds to the international understanding of diabetes care.The findings help health care professionals to understand, recognize, and address illness perceptions and their predictors among patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]