Factors Influencing Herbal Use Behaviors for Self-Healthcare Among Diabetic Patients at Khirimat Hospital, Sukhothai Province.

Abstract

This study was a cross-sectional analytical study aimed at examining factors influencing herbal use behaviors for self-healthcare among diabetic patients at Khirimat Hospital, Sukhothai Province.The sample consisted of 390 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, selected by simple random sampling. The research instruments were questionnaires, including a general information questionnaire, a knowledge questionnaire on herbal use, an attitude questionnaire toward herbal use, a social support questionnaire related to herbal use, a satisfaction questionnaire regarding herbal use, and a questionnaire on herbal use behaviors for self-healthcare. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results showed that most participants had moderate levels of knowledge regarding herbal use, social support, satisfaction, and herbal use behaviors for self-healthcare, while attitudes toward herbal use were at a high level. The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that factors significantly predicting herbal use behaviors for self-healthcare among diabetic patients included social support related to herbal use (β = 0.541, p < 0.001), attitudes toward herbal use (β = 0.445, p < 0.001), knowledge regarding herbal use (β = 0.423, p < 0.001), prior experience of using herbs for diabetes within the past year (β = 0.188, p = 0.001), duration of diabetes (β = 0.119, p = 0.018), and female (β = 0.097, p = 0.021). All predictors  explained 41.2% of the variance in herbal use behaviors for self-healthcare among diabetic patients (R^² = 0.412). The findings of this study indicate that enhancing social support, strengthening knowledge, and fostering positive attitudes toward herbal use play important roles in promoting self-healthcare behaviors among diabetic patients. These results can be applied to develop appropriate and safe herbal-based self-care guidelines for diabetic patients in community hospitals, contributing to sustainable and safe patient care.