Psychosocial factors related to the behavioral intention of people with type 2 diabetes using insulin

OBJECTIVES: to analyze the psychosocial factors correlated with the behavioral intention of people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) towards insulin use. METHODS: a cross-sectional study; a validated instrument based on the Theory of Planned Behavior was used to identify the direct measures (attitude, subjective norm and perceived control), indirect measures (behavioral, normative and control beliefs) and behavioral intention for the use of insulin. Descriptive analysis and Spearman’s correlation were performed for data analysis. RESULTS: a total of 211 individuals participated in the study, with a positive median of behavioral intention. Attitude, normative and behavioral beliefs were the psychosocial factors that presented a significant correlation (r=0.16, r=-0,15 and r=0.25, respectively; p<0.05) with the intention. CONCLUSIONS: there is a positive behavioral intention in the use of insulin by people with T2DM. Attitude, normative beliefs and behavioral beliefs have a low magnitude correlation with the intention of people with T2DM to use insulin.