Relationship between social problem-solving styles/orientations, quality of life and HbA1c levels in diabetic patients

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the social problem-solving skills of diabetic and healthy individuals and to investigate the correlation between the social problem-solving styles/orientations of diabetic patients with their quality of life and HbA1c levels. Materials and Methods: Social Problem-Solving Inventory Short Form and World Health Organization Quality of Life Survey Abbreviated Version were performed on ninety patients admitted to Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, who met the inclusion criteria, and on 90 healthy individuals with similar sociodemographic characteristics to the patients. HbA1c measurement values of the diabetic patients over the last 3 months were used. The target value in the glycemic control was determined as HbA1c <= 7. Results: Functional problem-solving scores of diabetic patients were significantly higher than the healthy subjects; the physical and environmental domain scores of quality of life were significantly lower. The non-functional problem solving scores of the diabetic patients who were women, unemployed and uneducated about the disease were significantly higher. Diabetic patients with HbA1c value <= 7 had higher positive attitude scores. Correlation analyses revealed that the functional problem solving styles of diabetics have a positive correlation with the physical, mental and environmental domains of the quality of life, and a negative correlation with HbA1c. Conclusion: Evaluating social problem-solving skills of diabetic patients and initiating them according to their requirements may contribute to the improvement of the quality of life and clinical outcomes.