%0 Journal Article %J J Diabetes %D 2011 %T Is diabetes-specific health literacy associated with diabetes-related outcomes in older adults? %A Takashi Yamashita %A Cary S Kart %K Adult %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Blood Glucose %K Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 %K Glycated Hemoglobin %K Health Literacy %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Middle Aged %K Multivariate Analysis %K Self Care %K Socioeconomic factors %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K United States %X

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 (±SD) 67.96 ± 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' 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.

%B J Diabetes %I 3 %V 3 %P 138-46 %8 2011 Jun %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21599867?dopt=Abstract %3 21599867 %4 Aged, 80 and over/Blood Glucose/ metabolism/Blood Glucose/ metabolism/Diabetes Mellitus/Type 2 Diabetes/Health Literacy/Health Literacy/HbA1c/Logistic Models/Middle Aged/Multivariate Analysis/Self Care/methods/Self Care/methods/Socioeconomic Factors %$ 62748 %R 10.1111/j.1753-0407.2011.00112.x