Do people with diabetes understand their clinical marker of long-term glycemic control (HbA1c levels) and does this predict diabetes self-care behaviours and HbA1c?
OBJECTIVE
Research demonstrates that patients have a poor understanding of glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and that this impacts on effective diabetes self-management. This study attempted to replicate these findings in a UK outpatient sample of people with diabetes.


METHODS
83 participants were recruited and asked to fill in a questionnaire assessing their understanding of HbA1c, diabetes self-care behaviours and diabetes-specific self-efficacy in relation to carrying out these self-care behaviours.


RESULTS
Only 26.5% of the participants were classified as having a good understanding of HbA1c. Correlational and univariate analyses indicated that this level of understanding was related to demographic variables, HbA1c levels and certain aspects of self-care and self-efficacy. A series of multiple regressions found that understanding was a significant predictor of HbA1c levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of participants seemed to have a poor understanding of HbA1c and this was related to aspects of their diabetes management, self-efficacy and HbA1c levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide support for the application of programmes and initiatives aimed at improving patients understanding of clinical disease markers.
Beard
Emma
E
Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, WC1E 7HN, United Kingdom. e.beard@ucl.ac.uk
Clark
Marie
M
Hurel
Steve
S
Cooke
Debbie
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin