International Journal of Nursing Research

Objective To investigate the impact of self-management based on the Empowerment Theory on patients' self-care ability, quality of life, and recurrence rate in diabetic retinopathy. Methods A total of 140 DR patients admitted to our department from December 2023 to December 2024 were selected as research subjects. They were divided into a control group (December 2023 to June 2024, routine care) and an observation group (July 2024 to December 2024, self-management nursing based on Empowerment Theory). The observation group received Each group included 70 patients. The intervention effects were evaluated using the SDSCA, the cfaVIQ, and 6-month recurrence rate assessment. Results After intervention, the observation group demonstrated significantly higher self-care ability scores than the control group (p<0.05), with the most notable improvements in blood glucose monitoring, dietary control, and compliance with regular follow-ups. In terms of quality of life, the observation group showed significant increases in the physiological function and socio-psychological adaptation dimensions of VRQoL. After 6 months of follow-up, the observation group exhibited lower recurrence rates compared to the control group. Conclusion The application of self-management based on Empowerment Theory in DR patients demonstrates significant effectiveness, effectively enhancing self-care ability, improving quality of life, and reducing disease recurrence risk. It provides a patient-centered non-pharmaceutical management strategy for clinical practice.

Empowerment theory; Diabetic retinopathy; Self-management; Self-care capacity; Quality of life; Recurrence rate