In:
Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 12, No. 1 ( 2020-12)
Abstract:
The primary objective of our study was to determine which factors influence health literacy (HL) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), and the secondary one was to evaluate the influence of HL on glycemic control. Methods This was an observational, cross-sectional study with 347 patients (144 with T1D and 203 with T2D), conducted between December 2014/December 2017. Data were obtained from medical records and/or questionnaire. The short test of Functional Health Literacy (S-TOFHLA) was used to evaluate HL. Results Age and years of school attendance were the most important variables associated with better performance in S-TOFHLA mainly in patients with T1D. A correlation between age and years of school attendance with S-TOFHLA score was observed in both groups of patients. After an unadjusted analysis, more patients with T1D presented adequate HL [119 (82.6%) vs 87 (44.8%, p 〈 0.001)]. Patients with T1D had higher scores than patients with T2D (84.4 ± 21.4 vs 61.6 ± 26.8 points, p 〈 0.001), respectively. This difference did not persist after adjustment for age and years of school attendance (73.04 ± 2.14 ± vs 70.04 ± 1.76 points) respectively, p = 0.348). No difference was found in HbA1c levels according to S-TOFHLA. All patients with T1D and HbA1c levels 〈 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) had adequate HL. Conclusions A considerable number of patients with either T1D or T2D did not have adequate HL. Overall, age and years of school attendance were the most important variables associated with better performance of S-TOFHLA. Although no difference was found in HbA1c levels according to S-TOFHLA, patients with T1D who self-reported as White, with more years of school attendance, and higher HL score reached more frequently a good glycemic control. Finally, in addition to therapeutic regimens, approaches on diabetes management should also include patients’ HL evaluation along with psychological and social aspects.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1758-5996
DOI:
10.1186/s13098-020-0519-6
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2020
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2518786-7
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