Role of Family Support, Spirituality and Self-efficacy in Type 2 Diabetes Self-care in Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family support, spirituality and self-care in Type 2 Diabetes patients in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. It also aimed at determining whether self-efficacy would moderate the relationship between spirituality, family support and self-care.

Study Design: A cross sectional study was adopted and 270 diabetes patients living in Greater Accra region were conveniently sampled. The data was collected using questionnaire such as FACIT-sp, DSMQ, SDS and S4-Mad. The IBM SPSS version 2020 was used in analysing the data. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation test and Hierarchical Multiple Regression were used respectively to test for the correlation between variables and moderation role of self-efficacy.

Results: Spirituality correlated with self-care (r = .151, p < .05). Also, family support correlated with self-care among T2DM patients (r = .237, p < .01). Self-efficacy moderated the relationship between family support and self-care (ΔR2 = .031, β = .254, p < .05). However, self-efficacy did not moderate the relationship between spirituality and self-care (ΔR2 = .002, β = -.358, p > .05).

Conclusion: More spirituality and more social support received by patients are associated with greater self-care. Again, self-efficacy moderates the relationship between family support and self-care but fails to influence the association between spirituality and self-care. Self-efficacy, spirituality and family support are critical in diabetes self-care. It is therefore beneficial that health care providers incorporate psychosocial interventions into health care delivery.