Most previous studies on the self-management of the patients
with type 2 diabetes were conducted with patients over 60 years
old. This study is significant because it verified the causal relationship
between factors affecting health outcome for young people
aged 23e45 years of age, with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, this
study constructed and tested a comprehensive structural model to
explore the causal relationships among all the components of the
IMB model [15], and verified the model. However, this study has a
limitation stemming from the instrument which was used to
measure the diabetes self-management knowledge. The internal
consistency reliability of the instrument was found to be lower in
this study (Cronbach's alpha at .61) than when originally developed
(Cronbach's alpha at .94). In several studies that used this scale,
Cronbach's alpha value was reported from .55 to .81. Therefore, in
the future studies, it is necessary that would be used the reliable
instruments to measure the self-management knowledge or
examined through another appropriate method for its reliability.