J Korean Clin Nurs Res.  2017 Dec;23(3):312-320. 10.22650/JKCNR.2017.23.3.312.

Factors Influencing Use of Medical Alert Identification in Diabetic Patients Using Insulin

• Kwon EK
• Lee CK
• Sim KH

• KMID: 2405621
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2017.23.3.312

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to identify perception, use status and factors influencing use of medical alert identification (ID) in diabetic patients who are on insulin.
METHODS
A survey was conducted from December 2013 to April 2014 with 198 people who were asked to participate in the survey.
RESULTS
The medical alert ID perception score was 3.54 on a 5-point scale. Most of respondents (82.8%) knew about the medical alert ID, but only 23.2% of respondents wore a medical alert ID and only 43.5% of respondents always wore a medical alert ID. Perception and frequency of possession were positively correlated (r=.41, p<.001). The most influential factor for the possession of a medical alert ID was the perception of the medical alert ID (β=.41, p<.001). The perception of the medical alert ID explained 17% of variance in possession of a medical alert ID.
CONCLUSION
Most of diabetic patients who take insulin received education about hypoglycemia and knew about the medical alert ID, but only few of them wore a medical alert ID. Findings from this study indicate that perception is an important variable related to possession of a medical alert ID in this population.

Keyword

Perception; Identification; Diabetes Mellitus; Insulin

MeSH Terms

Diabetes Mellitus
Education
Humans
Hypoglycemia
Insulin*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Insulin