Abstract
Background: Information therapy is transforming healthcare by prioritizing patient-centered care, emphasizing the delivery of relevant information to empower individuals in managing their health. In this regard, this study aimed to design an information therapy model and determine the predictive factors of self-care behaviors in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Conducted as a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, it involved 253 elderly diabetic patients from healthcare centers, internal medicine offices, and specialized diabetes clinics in Hamadan city in 2024. Data were gathered using a closed questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS 22 software through independent t-tests. AMOS 24 was utilized to measure model fit. Results: Participants had an average age of 69 years, with a majority being male and holding high school diplomas. Physicians and health professionals account for the highest number of referrals and users at 92.8%, followed by traditional media at 82.2%. The study found that patients who sought information from healthcare staff, peers, and family had higher knowledge scores compared to those who did not. Moreover, traditional media users also showed increased knowledge levels (p<0.05). Path analysis revealed that social networks (coefficient=0.11) and digital media (0.22) significantly impacted knowledge, which in turn affected attitudes towards self-care behaviors (0.45). Then, attitude has a significant impact on the occurrence of self-care behavior (0.26) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Enhancing knowledge and improving attitudes are crucial for developing effective information therapy strategies for elderly patients with type 2 diabetes, ultimately promoting sustainable self-care behaviors.