| Abstract [eng] |
Edvina Žalytė. Master's Thesis in Advanced Nursing Practice: Associations Between Disease Knowledge and Glycemic Control in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr. Indrė Čergelytė-Podgrušienė. Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing. Vilnius, 2025. Volume of the thesis with appendices – 63 pages. Introduction. Patients' knowledge about diabetes directly impacts glycemic control - better knowledge promotes appropriate nutrition, physical activity, and regular glucose monitoring, reducing HbA1c levels. Glycemic control is a critical element of diabetes management, which may directly depend on the patient’s knowledge of diabetes mellitus. Aim. To analyze the associations between disease knowledge and glycemic control in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objectives: 1. To determine the level of disease knowledge among middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. 2. To assess glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. 3. To identify associations between disease knowledge and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods and Materials. The study was conducted between 2024 and 2025. A quantitative research method was chosen, utilizing an anonymous questionnaire survey. The questionnaire included: the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire, the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire-Reversed, and sociodemographic questions. Data were collected via a closed Facebook group and two departments at a Vilnius city hospital. Participants included 230 patients with diabetes. The survey was conducted from January to April 2025. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and MS Excel. Results. Middle-Aged patients demonstrated better knowledge of nutrition, prevention, and medical care. Lower knowledge levels were associated with higher HbA1c, indicating poorer long-term glycemic control. Effective self-management (e.g., improved diet, physical activity, communication with physicians) correlated with lower HbA1c. However, older patients adhered better to dietary and medical recommendations, though overall self-management levels did not differ between age groups. Higher education and younger age correlated with better glucose control. High knowledge levels only slightly increased the likelihood of effective diabetes self-management. Conclusions. Knowledge about diabetes is an important conditional factor but insufficient for effective self-management, as evidenced by weak correlations and non-significant differences in self-management outcomes across knowledge levels. Thus, glycemic control depends not only on knowledge but also on the ability to apply it in practice. |
