Background:The information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model of health behavior is an effective tool to evaluate the behavior of diabetes self-management.The purpose of this study was to explore behavioral factors affecting the practice of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) within the frame of IMB model of health behavioral among adult patients with type 1 diabetes in a single diabetes clinic in China.Methods:A questionnaire with three subscales on SMBG information,motivation,and behavioral skills based on IMB model was developed.Validity and reliability of the measures were examined and guaranteed.Adult patients with type 1 diabetes visiting our diabetes clinic from January to March 2012 (n =55) were consecutively interviewed.The self-completion questionnaires were administered and finished at face-to-face interviews among these patients.Both descriptive and correlational analyses were made.Results:Fifty-five patients finished the questionnaires,with the median duration of diabetes 4.5 years and the median of SMBG frequency 2.00.Specific SMBG information deficits,motivation obstacles,and behavioral skill limitations were identified in a substantial proportion of participants.Scores of SMBG motivation (r =0.299,P =0.026) and behavioral skills (r =0.425,P =0.001) were significantly correlated with SMBG frequency.The multiple correlation of SMBG information,SMBG motivation,and SMBG behavioral skills with SMBG frequency was R =0.411 (R2 =0.169,P =0.023).Conclusions:Adult patients with type 1 diabetes in our clinic had substantial SMBG information deficits,motivation obstacles,and skill limitations.This information provided potential-focused education targets for diabetes health-care providers.