Hierarchical cluster analysis of elderly patients with diabetes who live alone
The HCA was conducted to classify the elderly patients with diabetes living alone (n=104) based on 5 support-need factors. The HCA yielded 7 clusters (Table 3). Cluster 1 consisted of 35 persons who did not have high support needs (DEVs≤50) and was named the No Special-Support Needs Group; it included 31 persons (89%) who were independent in terms of their care-need levels and had ADL scores of 12.3, and their frequency of going out was 6.5 days. Of the group, 21 individuals (60%) were being treated with oral medications. The total of IDSCA was 47.1, and the DEVs of 5 of the 7 factors were ≤50 (48.1 for Ability to Acquire Knowledge, 45.7 for Ability to Make the Most of the Support Available; 46.8 for Monitoring Ability, 49.9 for Application or Adjustment Ability and 46.3 for Motivation to Self-Management.