The Study Related to Perceived Stress, Stress Coping Method, Self-Care Behavior and Hemoglobin $A_1c$ of Elderly Diabetic Mellitus Patients

노인 당뇨병환자의 스트레스 지각, 스트레스 대처방식, 자가간호행위 및 당화혈색소와의 관계

Purpose: The purpose of this studγ is to understand relations among perceived stress, stress coping method, self-rare behavior and Hemoglobin $A_1c$ of elderly diabetic mellitus patients. Method: Participants were 128 patients who were under medical treatment in outpatient department at C university hospital. The collected data were analyzed using technical statistics, frequency, percentage, T-test, ANOVA and person's correlation coefficient by SPSS 12.0. Result: There were positive correlation between self-care behavior and coping method based on emotions under the lower category of stress coping method. Hemoglobin $A_1c$ of patients had a negative correlation with physical exorcise of self coping method under the lower category. Perceived stress had also a negative correlation with emotions as coping method in the lower category and medication of self-care behavior. Conclusion: It was noted that elderly diabetic mellitus patients didn't much use a coping method based mainly problems and another method based emotions in case of perceived stress. The findings of this study will be useful for developing an nursing intervention program focused on elderly diabetic mellitus patients.