Associations between having an informal caregiver, social support, and self-care among low-income adults with poorly controlled diabetes. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bouldin, Erin D; Trivedi, Ranak B; Reiber, Gayle E; Rosland, Ann-Marie; Silverman, Julie B; Krieger, James; Nelson, Karin M
• Is Part Of: Chronic illness. Volume 13:Number 4(2017:Dec.)
• Page Start: 239
• Page End: 250
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Caregiver -- social support -- diabetes -- self-care -- adherence -- self-management; Chronic diseases -- Periodicals; 616.04405
• DOI: 10.1177/1742395317690032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-3953

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the presence of an informal caregiver and the patient's level of social support are associated with better diabetes self-care among adults with poorly controlled diabetes. Methods: Cross-sectional study using baseline data from 253 adults of age 30–70 with poorly controlled diabetes. Participants who reported receiving assistance with their diabetes from a friend or family member in the past month were classified as having a caregiver. We used multivariate linear and logistic regression models to evaluate the associations between having a caregiver and level of social support with five self-reported diabetes self-care behaviors: diet, foot checks, blood glucose monitoring, medications, and physical activity. Results: Compared to participants with no informal caregiver, those with an informal caregiver were significantly more likely to report moderate or high medication adherence (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.07–3.49, p = 0.028). When we included social support in the model, having a caregiver was no longer significantly associated with medication adherence (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 0.80–2.82), but social support score was (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03–1.45, p = 0.023). Discussion: Among low-income adults with poorly controlled diabetes, having both an informal caregiver and high social support for diabetes may have a beneficial effect on medication adherence, a key self-care target to improve diabetes control.