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Risk and Control of Type II Diabetes: Perceptions of Unaffected Relatives

Smith, Brandon J
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1367925659

Abstract Details

2013, MS, University of Cincinnati, Medicine: Genetic Counseling.
Introduction: Type II diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is increasing in incidence across the world and especially in the United States, despite known behaviors that can reduce risk. Identifying perceptions within families regarding personal risk and control may lead to the development of effective family based interventions to reduce the incidence of type II diabetes. Methods: Phone interviews of a quantitative survey were conducted and participant responses were recorded in the online tool, CIKNOW. The variables described were perceived personal and comparative risk of developing type II diabetes and heart disease; perceived control over preventing type II diabetes and heart disease; and the risk reducing behaviors of exercise and fruit and vegetable consumption. Additionally, following data transformation, Pearsons Correlation statistics were used to identify significant associations between the collected variables. Results: A total of 13 first degree relatives of individuals with type II diabetes completed the phone interview. More participants perceived a higher comparative risk than personal lifetime risk of type II diabetes; whereas the opposite was true for heart disease. Additionally, more respondents reported a higher perceived personal risk of heart disease than type II diabetes. The majority of respondents perceived a sense of control over both type II diabetes and heart disease. Significant correlations at the .05 level included a negative correlation between exercise and perceived risk (r = -0.618, p = 0.024), and a positive correlation between perceived risk and perceived control (r = 0.637, p = 0.019). Discussion: The results indicate that participants may underestimate their personal risk of developing type II diabetes, but most agreed the diseases were controllable suggesting they understand the influence of personal behaviors on risk. The associations found in this study will require further investigation through studies with greater statistical power and larger sample sizes.
Melanie Myers, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Ge Zhang, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
30 p.
Public Health
Family history; first degree relatives; type II diabetes; heart disease; perceived risk; perceived control;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smith, B. J. (2013). Risk and Control of Type II Diabetes: Perceptions of Unaffected Relatives [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1367925659

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smith, Brandon. Risk and Control of Type II Diabetes: Perceptions of Unaffected Relatives. 2013. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1367925659.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smith, Brandon. "Risk and Control of Type II Diabetes: Perceptions of Unaffected Relatives." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1367925659

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1367925659
370
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.