Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of diabetes self‐efficacy in adults with type 2 diabetes and comorbid heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a comorbidity that complicates type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) management and increases the chance of death. However, little is known concerning factors related to diabetes self‐efficacy in comorbid HF. This secondary data analysis was aimed at describing sociodemographic and clinical correlates of diabetes self‐efficacy in adults with T2D and comorbid HF. A correlational design was used to analyze cross‐sectional baseline data from a randomized study of 180 participants that tested a 6‐month integrated self‐care intervention targeting adults with concomitant HF and T2D. Participants were enrolled from one of four large urban‐tertiary hospitals in Atlanta, GA, during 2010–2013. Data were collected from medical records and self‐report. We used stepwise multiple linear regressions to examine variables associated with diabetes self‐efficacy. The participants' mean age was 58.1 ± 10.7 years and the majority were male ( n  = 118; 65.6%) and African American ( n  = 119; 66.1%). Good self‐rated health and presence of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) had significant positive relationships with diabetes self‐efficacy, while taking both oral antiglycemic medication and insulin, history of depression, cardiac pacemaker, and taking digitalis were negatively related. These variables collectively explained 22.4% of the variation in diabetes self‐efficacy. One study implication is that using self‐rated health provides a quick, patient‐centered assessment to evaluate patient health status. Further studies are warranted to ascertain the pathways linking ICD, pacemaker, and digitalis treatment with diabetes self‐efficacy.