@article {7645, title = {Is diabetes-specific health literacy associated with diabetes-related outcomes in older adults?}, journal = {J Diabetes}, volume = {3}, year = {2011}, note = {Yamashita, Takashi Kart, Cary S Australia Journal of diabetes J Diabetes. 2011 Jun;3(2):138-46. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-0407.2011.00112.x.}, month = {2011 Jun}, pages = {138-46}, publisher = {3}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The present study examined the association between a measure of diabetes-specific health literacy and three different Type 2 diabetes outcome indicators in a national sample of older adults.

METHODS: Data were taken from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2003 Diabetes module and the HRS 2002 core wave. Analysis was performed on data from 1318 respondents aged 42-96 years [mean ({\textpm}SD) 67.96 {\textpm} 8.65 years] who submitted responses on all relevant independent variable measures along with an HbA1c test kit. The index of diabetes-specific health literacy was constructed from responses to 10 diabetes self-care regimen items (α = 0.927).

RESULTS: Using a multivariate regression strategy to analyze weighted data, the diabetes-specific health literacy index was significantly and positively associated with self-graded assessment of diabetes self-care (R2 = 0.231). However, diabetes-specific health literacy was not independently associated with the HbA1c level or the average number of days five recommended self-management behaviors were practiced each week.

CONCLUSIONS: No previous single study has focused on the relationship between diabetes-specific health literacy and multiple diabetes-related outcomes. The direct association of diabetes-specific health literacy with patients{\textquoteright} assessment of their self-care practice acumen is useful information for the design of effective patient intervention and/or communication strategies. Health literacy is a broad, multidimensional construct that bridges basic literacy skills and various health and illness contexts. Because it is so important to adults engaged in the self-management of chronic illness, indicators of disease-specific knowledge and/or understanding should be included in efforts to measure health literacy.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Glycated Hemoglobin, Health Literacy, Humans, Logistic Models, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Self Care, Socioeconomic factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States}, issn = {1753-0407}, doi = {10.1111/j.1753-0407.2011.00112.x}, author = {Takashi Yamashita and Cary S Kart} }