Health literacy in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Questionnaire-based Study

Abstract

Introduction: Health literacy related to diabetes mellitus can lower the likelihood of prolonged hospitalization, healthcare expenses, and poor health outcomes in diabetic patients. Thus, they can lead a good quality of life. Hence, we planned to assess the effect of diabetic health literacy on self-care and complications among rural and urban diabetic patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Written informed consent was obtained. Patient’s details were collected using pre-designed proforma. Questionnaire was validated with Cronbach’s alpha 0.7 before administering it to patients. It consisted of 12 questions pertaining to 2 diabetes mellitus, its treatment, and complications. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics
and unpaired t-test. 
Results :Fifty patients each were from urban and rural regions. Mean age was 51.84±13.22years in urban and 54.16±11.80years in rural population. Health literacy related to diabetes mellitus among urban and rural participants was statistically insignificant with regard to normal blood glucose levels (BGL), frequency of their monitoring, diabetic diet and awareness of symptoms associated
with high and low BGL. The urban individuals could tell the names of the medications(p=0.025). Selfcare like compliance to treatment, exercise, and measures to reduce worsening of hypoglycaemia features were similar among urban and rural individuals but adherence to diet for diabetes was observed in patients from rural areas (p=0.003). Awareness regarding long term
effects like diabetic foot, cardiovascular complications were similar in both urban and rural patients.

Conclusion: Health literacy related to diabetes in urban and rural patients was similar however those from rural regions were adherent to diabetic diet.