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Background and Aim: Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem throughout the world. This biochemical disorder is characterized by hyperglycemia, impaired metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and accompanied by absolute or relative insulin deficiency of the body. It is estimated that by 2025 about 300 million will have got diabetes in the world. Self-efficacy is proposed as a concept of social learning theory and a construct of health belief model, particularly when the model is used for predicting simple life-style changes in chronic diseases. This study was designed and carried out to determine the status of this construct and its related factors in addition to its correlation with self-care behaviors among diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 120 patients referring to Yazd diabetes research center. A questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been assessed and approved was used to record perceived self-efficacy and self-care behavior constructs through interviewing each subject in private. Besides, the subjects' demographic variables such as age, sex, education level, job, period of having diabetes, and type of diabetes were inquired. Results: The subjects scored 59.9% of self-efficacy. Among self-care behaviors, keeping blood glucose at normal range when under stress and managing hyper/hypoglycemia well, received the lowest perceived self- efficacy score , but performing the prescribed number of daily insulin injections or taking drugs in due course received the highest score. Men had a higher level of self-efficacy, while it was also positively correlated with education level. Level of self-efficacy was also higher in female employees in comparison with housewives. Self-efficacy was positively correlated with self-care behaviors and its respective variance was 38% Conclusion: Respondents gave average self-efficacy ratings on their ability to manage all aspects of their disease. Self-efficacy, as the most important diabetes-related self-care, got a high level of importance. Therefore, self-efficacy must be reinforced in these patients especially in women who seem to be weaker in this domain.

Keywords: Perceived Self-efficacy, Self-care behaviors, Diabetes

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