Factors Predicting Self-Management Behavior among Thai Older Monks with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Self-management is important for people with diabetes, including older monks whose lifestyles must conform to religious practice. This cross-sectional study aimed to describe self-management and its predictive factors among older Thai monks with type 2 diabetes. The sample consisted of 196 older monks who received services at two monastic hospitals from September to December 2023. Data were collected using q uestionnaires regarding g eneral information and illness information, self-management behavior, health literacy, perceived self-efficacy, and social support. Stepwise multiple regression analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that the older monks exhibited moderate self-management and health literacy levels, with high perceived self-eficacy and social support. Collectively, these factors significantly predicted self-management by 35.4%. Health literacy emerged as the most influential predictive factor for self-management, followed by self-efficacy and social support. Nurses can use this finding to develop and test the efectiveness of an intervention program that emphasizes increasing health literacy, self-eficacy, and social support to enhance self-management behaviors integrated with new technology.