Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the predictors of cardiovascular risk factors among type 2 diabetic patients.
Method: Data were collected from November, 2003 to June, 2004 using a physiological index and questionnaires. Patients(N=159) aged 40 and above were conveniently recruited from health care centers in B city. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS WIN 10.0 program.
Results: The cardiovascular risk factors were negatively related with female gender, household monthly income, educational experience about diabetes, physical activity, self-care, self-efficacy and problem oriented coping, while positively related with the duration of diabetes, diabetic family history and depression. Self-care, diabetic family history, female gender, monthly household income, self-efficacy, affective-oriented coping and physical activity predicted 41.5% of the variance in cardiovascular risk factors of diabetic patients.
Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, we concluded that cardiovascular risk factors of type 2 diabetic patients are related to the modifiable and non-modifiable variables. Self-care, self-efficacy, affective- oriented coping, and physical activity were identified as modifiable variables. Intervention programs to increase those variables are warranted to reduce cardiovascular risk factors among type 2 diabetic patients.
|