Validation of an Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model of diabetes self-care (IMB-DSC)

Patient Educ Couns. 2010 Apr;79(1):49-54. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2009.07.016. Epub 2009 Aug 21.

Abstract

Objective: Comprehensive behavior change frameworks are needed to provide guidance for the design, implementation, and evaluation of diabetes self-care programs in diverse populations. We applied the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model, a well-validated, comprehensive health behavior change framework, to diabetes self-care.

Methods: Patients with diabetes were recruited from an outpatient clinic. Information gathered pertained to demographics, diabetes knowledge (information); diabetes fatalism (personal motivation); social support (social motivation); and diabetes self-care (behavior). Hemoglobin A1C values were extracted from the patient medical record. Structural equation models tested the IMB framework.

Results: More diabetes knowledge (r=0.22 p<0.05), less fatalistic attitudes (r=-0.20, p<0.05), and more social support (r=0.27, p<0.01) were independent, direct predictors of diabetes self-care behavior; and through behavior, were related to glycemic control (r=-0.20, p<0.05).

Conclusions: Consistent with the IMB model, having more information (more diabetes knowledge), personal motivation (less fatalistic attitudes), and social motivation (more social support) was associated with behavior; and behavior was the sole predictor of glycemic control.

Practice implications: The IMB model is an appropriate, comprehensive health behavior change framework for diabetes self-care. The findings indicate that in addition to knowledge, diabetes education programs should target personal and social motivation to effect behavior change.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Education*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Educational
  • Models, Psychological
  • Motivation*
  • Patient Education as Topic*
  • Qualitative Research
  • Self Care*
  • Social Support
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A