Research Article

Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study

Volume: 11 Number: 1 March 15, 2026
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Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to determine cardiovascular risk awareness and related factors in patients with diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted between March 15, 2025, and December 2, 2025, using a mixed-methods design (descriptive, correlational, and phenomenological). A total of 154 patients participated in the quantitative phase, and 12 patients participated in the qualitative phase. The “Patient Information Form, Cardiovascular Risk Awareness Scale, and Semi-Structured Interview Form” were used for data collection. The study was conducted in two parts: a questionnaire was administered in the first, and interviews were conducted in the second. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. SPSS 25 was used for the analysis of quantitative data, and MAXQDA 24 was used for the study of qualitative findings. Results: The average cardiovascular risk awareness of the patients was 29.88±7.03. According to regression analysis, the independent variables predicted cardiovascular risk awareness with 21.5 percent accuracy (F = 6.982, p < 0.001). Cardiovascular risk awareness was directly affected by gender, occupation, marital status, treatment compliance, smoking, and exercise or walking (p < 0.005). The qualitative findings consisted of the main theme “disease management” and the subthemes “awareness, lack of knowledge, and fatalism.” Conclusion: The cardiovascular risk awareness of the patients was low. Individual factors significantly affected awareness. Eliminating patients’ lack of knowledge may increase their understanding and prevent fatalistic tendencies.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Approval for the study was obtained from the ethics committee of a Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University (Date: 03.03.2025, decision no: 2025/08-10). Permission was obtained from the institution where the study was conducted. Informed consent was obtained from all participants in the study. Permission was obtained from the scale developers via e-mail. The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration.

References

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  2. 2. International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Diabetes Atlas 2025. https://diabetesatlas.org/resources/idf-diabetes-atlas-2025/ Accessed December 3, 2025.
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  4. 4. Saeedi P, Karuranga S, Hammond L, et al. Cardiovascular disease and risk factor knowledge and awareness among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a global evaluation. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2020;165:108194. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108194
  5. 5. World Health Organization (WHO). The top 10 causes of death 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death Accessed December 3, 2025.
  6. 6. Alemu F, Beza L, Jiru T, Endale D. Assessment of knowledge on cardiovascular disease risk factors among diabetes mellitus patients in tikur anbessa specialized hospital, Ethiopia 2021: a cross‐sectional study. Nursing Research and Practice. 2025;1:7737392. doi:10.1155/nrp/7737392
  7. 7. Fetters MD, Molina-Azorin JF. A checklist of mixed methods elements in a submission for advancing the methodology of mixed methods research. J Mix Methods Res. 2019;13(4):414-423. doi:10.1177/1558689819875832
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

​Internal Diseases Nursing​

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 15, 2026

Submission Date

December 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 1

APA
Soylu, A., & Seven, A. (2026). Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences, 11(1), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1839963
AMA
1.Soylu A, Seven A. Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study. OTJHS. 2026;11(1):71-79. doi:10.26453/otjhs.1839963
Chicago
Soylu, Ayse, and Ahmet Seven. 2026. “Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study”. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences 11 (1): 71-79. https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1839963.
EndNote
Soylu A, Seven A (March 1, 2026) Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences 11 1 71–79.
IEEE
[1]A. Soylu and A. Seven, “Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study”, OTJHS, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 71–79, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.26453/otjhs.1839963.
ISNAD
Soylu, Ayse - Seven, Ahmet. “Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study”. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences 11/1 (March 1, 2026): 71-79. https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1839963.
JAMA
1.Soylu A, Seven A. Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study. OTJHS. 2026;11:71–79.
MLA
Soylu, Ayse, and Ahmet Seven. “Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study”. Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences, vol. 11, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 71-79, doi:10.26453/otjhs.1839963.
Vancouver
1.Ayse Soylu, Ahmet Seven. Determination of Cardiovascular Risk Awareness and Related Factors in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Method Study. OTJHS. 2026 Mar. 1;11(1):71-9. doi:10.26453/otjhs.1839963

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