Self-Determination Theory and Quality of Life of Adults with Diabetes: A Scoping Review
Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Diabetes Research
Abstract
Background. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of sickness, death, and decreased quality of life globally. The prevalence of
diabetes keeps rising globally due to lifestyle changes and urbanization. Therefore, improved quality of life (QoL) and
appropriate diabetes self-management practices, including treatment adherence, are crucial to improving and sustaining the
health of diabetic patients. Some studies have adopted the self-determination theory (SDT) to study diabetes interventions, but
less is known about its effectiveness in improving QoL, treatment adherence, and diabetes self-management. Aim/Objective.
This review assessed the effectiveness of SDT in improving self-management practices, treatment adherence, and QoL among
adult diabetic patients. Method. We followed the six-stage framework by Arksey and O’Malley in conducting the review.
PubMed, JSTOR, Central, and ScienceDirect databases were searched for published articles from January 2011 to October 2021
using keywords and Boolean logic. Furthermore, we screened a reference list of related articles. Also, Google Scholar, Z-library,
and web-based searches were carried out to retrieve other relevant evidence that applied SDT in improving QoL, diabetes self management, and treatment adherence. Findings. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, from which data were extracted as
findings. SDT effectively improved QoL, diabetes treatment adherence, and diabetes self-management among diabetic patients.
Of these studies, 11 provided data on SDT and diabetes self-management and affirmed the effectiveness of the theory in
improving appropriate diabetes self-management practices. Two studies confirmed the effectiveness of SDT in improving
treatment adherence. SDT and QoL were assessed in 4 of the studies, which demonstrated the effectiveness of SDT in
enhancing the QoL of diabetic patients. Conclusion. SDT effectively improved QoL, diabetes treatment adherence, and diabetes
self-management. The application of SDT in diabetes management will improve the health and QoL of diabetic patients.
Hence, diabetes management interventions could adopt SDT to guide treatment.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Diabetes, quality of life (QoL), self-management practices