DIABETIC ADOLESCENTS COMPLIANCE WITH HEALTH REGIMENS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

Fifty-one young diabetics responded to a questionnaire concerning comp liance and were interviewed on two topics: the meaning of care to the subjects and the nature of their support system. Diabetes control was measured by glycosylated haemoglobin (GHB). Interview data were analys ed by continuous comparative analyses. The categories obtained were qu antified and the relationship between variables analysed by cross tabu lation, chi-square test and discriminant analysis. Those who responded with a good compliance showed good control of diabetes as indicated b y GHB values and reported sufficient energy and will-power to implemen t the health regimens. Those young people who reported that they had s ufficient energy and will-power considered care important, received en couragement, felt that care brings well-being and had no fears of comp lications. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.