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

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.