Predictors of health self-management behaviour in Kazakh patients with metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study in China

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is common among Muslim patients living in China, most of whom are Kazakh adults. Continuous and effective health self-management plays a critical role in preventing negative health outcomes for individuals with MS. However, Muslim minority patients with MS face many difficulties in actively participating in health self-management, and the factors supporting their successful self-management of MS remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the factors predicting health self-management behaviour among Kazakh MS patients and provide empirical evidence for establishing recommendation guidelines or intervention programmes for health self-management among Muslim minorities. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Xinjiang Province, China, with the use of convenience sampling to explore the current health self-management behaviour of 454 Kazakh MS patients and its influencing factors. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: The total health self-management behaviour score of Kazakh MS patients was 85.84±11.75, and the weaknesses in self-management behaviour were mainly reflected in three dimensions: disease self-monitoring, emotion management and communication with physicians. The significant positive predictors of health self-management behaviour were sex, education, family monthly income per capita, weight, knowledge of MS, and self-efficacy, while the significant negative predictors were blood pressure, the number of MS components, chronic disease comorbidities, and social support (objective support and utilization of support). CONCLUSION: The health self-management behaviour of Kazakh MS patients is poor. Health care providers should aim to develop culturally specific and feasible health management intervention programmes based on the weaknesses and major modifiable influencing factors in Muslim minority MS patient health self-management, thus improving the health outcomes and quality of life of patients.