title: A study of the level of knowledge about diabetes management of low-income persons with diabetes.
abstract: Diabetes education has proven to be an effective intervention for the management of diabetes. Persons with lower education levels, the majority of whom have low incomes, receive less diabetes self-management education (DSME) than their peers. This study compared the diabetes knowledge level of low-income adults who did not have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma with those who did. We conducted a survey among residents of 4 low-income neighborhoods in Cincinnati, Ohio, using a cross-sectional descriptive design. Surveys included information related to diabetes self-management and level of education. The only questions for which there was a significant difference between the 2 groups were those pertaining to the causes and treatment of hypoglycemia. Survey results were used to validate the need for a DSME program for low-income adults in Cincinnati, Ohio. A DSME program was developed specifically for persons with low literacy.
authors.affiliation: TriHealth, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230, USA. phyllisk@fuse.net
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kemper
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Niederbaumer
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anthony
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D019468:Disease Management; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D016730:Program Development; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population