Hamadan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Research in Health Sciences 2228-7795 11 1 2011 06 28 Assessment of Self-Care Practice and Its Associated Factors among Diabetic Patients in Urban Area of Urmia, Northwest of Iran 33 38 EN Zahra Yekta Reza Pourali Mohammad Reza Aghassi Nastaran Ashragh Leila Ravanyar Mohammad Yossef Rahim Pour Journal Article 2011 06 28 Background: Self care of diabetes is essential for control of disease and improvement of quality of patients' life. The aim of this study was to assess factors influencing self-care practice of patients in urban area of Urmia, Northwest of Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 400 diabetic patients were randomly selected from eight healthcare centers in Urmia City in 2010. Data collection tools was a questionnaire included data on demographic characteristics, diabetes statues, and self-care practice. Patients' self-care practice was classified to good, moderate, and poor levels. ANOVA and Chi–square tests were used to exam the association between self-care practice and clinical and behavioral factors. Spearman’s rho correlation was used to examine the relation between self-care practice and control of glycemia.Results: The patients' self-care practice was good in 15.1%, moderate in 58.7%, and poor in 26.2%. There was a significant association between education (P=0.030), duration of disease (P=0.04), and treatment intensity (P=0.001) and self-care practice of patients.Conclusion: Despite the important role of self-care practice in management of diabetes and preventing its serious complications, most patients who have medical record in health care centers had inappropriate self-care practice especially in SMBG, which has critical role in controlling diabetes.