Illness perception and self-management in patients with type 2 diabetes

TL;DR

This study explores how patients with type 2 diabetes perceive their illness and how these perceptions relate to their self-management, identifying distinct profiles and types to inform targeted psychological interventions.

Contribution

The paper identifies specific illness perception profiles and types in type 2 diabetes patients, providing a basis for tailored psychological support strategies.

Findings

Two perception profiles identified: threat and controllability.

Three perception types characterized by beliefs about illness and treatment.

Profiles linked to different psychological intervention targets.

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study on the perception of illness and adaptation parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study involved 173 patients diagnosed with "Type 2 Diabetes" (ICD-11 code 5 A 11). The average age of the patients was 55.21+/-13.47 and the average duration of the disease was 11.79+/-8.16. Two profiles of illness perception were identified: Profile 1 - "Perception of illness threat" and Profile 2 - "Perception of illness and treatment controllability". Three types of illness perception were also identified: Type 1 - "Formed illness threat and negative beliefs about illness and treatment control" (Group 1); Type 2 - "Unformed illness threat and neutral beliefs about illness and treatment control" (Group 2); Type 3 - "Formed illness threat and positive beliefs about illness and treatment control" (Group 3). Targets for further psychological interventions were formulated for each identified type.