CONCLUSION
In summary, this study has shown that self-efficacy and selfcare
behavior is prevalent among Malaysian patients, who
tend to have moderately high self-efficacy.We also found that
respondents with higher educational levels are more confident
about checking blood glucose concentrations, respondents
who have been diagnosed with diabetes more than ten
years previously are more confident about administering
medication and respondents without other chronic conditions
or complications are more confident about complying
with eating and physical exercise plans.
Health education strategy is very important and the
nursing profession needs to review it periodically. The
concept of self-efficacy should be included in nursing interventions
with particular focus on healthy eating, physical
exercise, monitoring of blood glucose concentrations and risk
reduction behavior. Involvement of family members and
other health care staff; such as physicians, dieticians, therapists,
and psychologists, coupled with proper medical and
social welfare can help reduce the patients’ burdens in combating
diabetes. It is thus highly recommended that selfefficacy
theory be introduced into the nursing curriculum.
Limitations of this study emerged when the instruments
that had been adapted from other populations were not
appropriately tested for reliability and validity. Because this
study setting was solely the University of Malaya Medical
Centre, our results cannot be generalized to all patients with
type 2 diabetes in Malaysia. Self-efficacy and self-care behavior
of patients with type 2 diabetes would vary over time, but
in this study the researcher did not assess such variations
because follow-ups were not carried out. Through multiple
continuing follow-ups, researchers could identify trends and
possible changes as well as factors influencing self-efficacy.