Studi Prediksi: Illness Belief dan Illness Representation dalam Meningkatkan Kualitas Hidup Pasien Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the chronic diseases which requires an appropriate strategy in its management. Various experiences and knowledge of patients during their illness can lead to a different illness belief and illness representation. The suitability of illness belief and illness representation can be one of the keys to success in managing the disease. This study aimed to predict the most dominant influence of illness belief and illness representation in improving the quality of life of patients with DM. This study described a survey study with an explorative and exploratory design. A consecutive sampling was used to recruit the samples of 147 respondents in Dr. Soeroto and Widodo hospitals in Ngawi, East Java. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Willis, Man-Whitney and multiple regression tests. The results showed that illness belief and illness representation were associated with the quality of life (p-value = 0,000; α<0,01 and p-value = 0,000; α<0,01), and Illness belief was more dominant in improving the quality of life of patients with DM. The results known that illness belief and illness representation were not influenced by the characteristics of the respondents. The most dominant aspect of illness belief which affected the quality of life of the patients was the belief about health care (adjusted R2 = 0.390), while the illness representation which gave the most influence on the quality of life was the identity (adjusted R2 = 0.358). This study concluded that illness belief and illness representation had an important role in the management of patients with DM. The supports from the nurses are needed so that the patients can develop positive illness belief and illness representation in responding to the disease.