Quality of life and factors associated with a good quality of life among diabetes mellitus patients in northern Thailand

Table 1 General characteristics among the participants (n = 967)

Characteristics	n	%
Sex
Male	398	41.2
Female	569	58.8
Age (years)
≤ 59	461	47.7
≥ 60	506	52.3
Mean = 58.7, SD = 11.3
Marital status
Single	70	7.2
Married	759	78.5
Ever married	138	14.3
Religion
Buddhism	965	99.5
Christian	5	0.5
Education
No education	122	12.6
Primary school	649	67.1
≥ High school	196	20.3
Occupation
Unemployed	283	29.3
Farmer	352	36.4
Employer	332	34.3
Annual income (baht)
≤ 50,000	664	68.7
50,001–100,000	189	19.5
≥ 100,001	114	11.8
Family members (people)
≤ 4	828	85.6
≥ 5	139	14.4
Living with
Alone	61	6.3
Spouse	589	60.9
Child	216	22.3
Relatives	101	10.5
Smoking
No	810	83.8
Yes	157	16.2
Alcohol consumption
No	813	84.1
Yes	154	15.9
Exercise
No	499	51.6
Sometimes	265	27.4
Regularly	203	21.0
Stress (ST-5)
Low	719	74.4
Moderate	159	16.4
High	89	9.2
Length of having diabetes (year)
≤ 10	709	73.3
11–20	172	17.8
> 20	86	8.9
Controlled blood glucose
No	530	54.8
Yes	437	45.2
Experience of having side effect of taking diabetes medicines
No	836	86.5
Yes	131	13.5
Experience of having wound on foots
No	907	93.8
Yes	60	6.2
Diabetic nephropathy
Yes	375	38.8
Do not know	486	59.3
No	106	11.0
Having hypertension
Yes	395	40.8
Do not know	517	53.5
No	55	5.7
Medical expenses
Under the national universal scheme	947	97.9
Self-payment	20	2.1
Knowledge regarding DM prevention and care
Low	78	8.1
Moderate	384	39.7
High	505	52.2
Attitudes regarding DM prevention and care
Poor	270	27.9
Moderate	562	58.1
Positive	135	14.0

ISSN: 1477-7525