A predictive model of health outcomes for young people with type 2 diabetes

Summary Purpose This study was conducted to develop and test a hypothetical model to predict health outcomes in young people with type 2 diabetes. Methods Data were collected from 190 adults aged 23-45 with type 2 diabetes mellitus who visited the endocrinology outpatient department of the two university hospitals in South Korea from November 2, 2012 to March 7, 2013. Data collection used the structured questionnaires and patient medical records. The descriptive and correlation statistics were analyzed using PASW 18.0 and structural equation modeling procedure was performed using the AMOS 18.0 program. Results The fit of the hypothetical model was appropriate with the ratio of the chi-square statistic to degrees of freedom at 17.00, goodness-of-fit index at.975, adjusted goodness-of-fit index at.930, root mean square error of approximation at.061, normed fit index at.926, Turker-Lewis index at.929, comparative fit index at.966. Behavioral skills were a critical factor that directly affects self-management behaviors. Through behavioral skills, motivation had a statistically significant indirect effect on self-management behavior. Self-management behavior had a statistically significant direct effect on health outcome. Through self-management behavior, behavioral skills had a statistically significant indirect effect on health outcome. These variables explained 17.9% of the total variance for the health outcome in young people with type 2 diabetes. Conclusions The results suggest that self-management behavior could be improved through nursing interventions promoting personal motivation (positive attitude), social motivation (social support), and behavioral skills (self efficacy), which can result in better health outcomes for young people with type 2 diabetes.