Comparative Study of Diabetes Knowledge, Attitudes, Family Support, Self-efficacy, and Self-management Behaviors Between Cancer Survivors With Diabetes and Diabetes Patients Without Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Studies have compared diabetes management quality indicators, focusing on physiological markers such as hemoglobin A1c, between cancer survivors with diabetes and general diabetes patients. However, research comparing differences in diabetes self-management behaviors and the factors influencing them between these groups is lacking.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare self-management behaviors, guided by the information-motivation-behavior model, between cancer survivors with diabetes and general diabetes patients. In addition, we aimed to identify differences in factors such as diabetes knowledge, attitudes, family support, and self-efficacy that may influence diabetes self-management behaviors in both groups.

METHODS: A total of 125 cancer survivors with diabetes and 126 general diabetes patients participated in this cross-sectional study. A structured questionnaire assessed demographics, diabetes knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and self-management behaviors.

RESULTS: Regarding diabetes education, 47.0% of cancer survivors and 61.6% of general diabetes patients received education. The cancer survivors had lower diabetes knowledge scores (10.30 ± 4.15, P < .001), a lower perceived value of strict blood glucose control (4.10 ± 0.56, P < .001), and less family support (15.50 ± 7.50, P = .019) than the patients without cancer (13.51 ± 3.84, 4.25 ± 0.65, and 17.57 ± 6.40, respectively).

CONCLUSION: This study reveals significant differences in diabetes self-management between cancer survivors and general diabetes patients. Cancer survivors showed lower diabetes knowledge, glucose control perception, and family support. These findings highlight the need for tailored self-management programs for cancer survivors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study offers insights for developing tailored diabetes self-management programs and educational interventions for cancer survivors.