Factors Associated with Blood Glucose Control Behaviors among Diabetic Patients in Na Bon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

Abstract

This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to examine factors associated with glycemic control behaviors among patients with diabetes in Na Bon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. A total of 304 participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire covering personal characteristics, diabetes knowledge, health beliefs, social and health service support, and glycemic control behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient, with the level of statistical significance set at 0.05.

The results showed that most participants had high levels of diabetes knowledge, health beliefs, and social and health service support. Occupation was significantly associated with glycemic control behaviors (χ² = 10.08, p = 0.04). Diabetes knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and social and health service support were positively associated with glycemic control behaviors. Social and health service support showed the strongest positive correlation (r = 0.59, p < 0.001), whereas perceived barriers were negatively correlated with glycemic control behaviors (r = −0.31, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that healthcare services should strengthen support from family members, Village Health Volunteers (VHVs), and healthcare personnel while reducing barriers to self-care in order to promote sustained glycemic control behaviors among patients with diabetes.