title: Knowledge of A1c Predicts Diabetes Self-Management and A1c Level among Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
abstract: This study was to identify current A1c understanding status among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes, assess if knowledge of A1c affects their diabetes self-management and their glycemic control and recognize the factors influencing knowledge of A1c among patients with type 2 diabetes. A multi-center, cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and July 2010 in 50 medical centers in the Mainland China. Participants were recruited from inpatients and outpatients who were admitted to or visited those medical centers. The survey included core questions about their demographic characteristics, diabetes self-management behavior, and A1c knowledge. Overall, of 5957 patients, the percentage of patients with good understanding was 25.3%. In the multivariable logistic regression model, the variables related to the knowledge of A1c status are presented. We discovered that patients with longer diabetes duration (OR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.04-1.06) and having received diabetes education (OR = 1.80; 95%CI = 1.49-2.17) were overrepresented in the good understanding of A1c group. In addition, compared to no education level, higher education level was statistically associated with good understanding of A1c (P<0.001). The percentage of patients with good understanding varied from region to region (P<0.001), with Eastern being highest (OR = 1.54; 95%CI = 1.32-1.80), followed by Central (OR = 1.25; 95%CI = 1.02-1.53), when referring to Western. Only a minority of patients with type 2 diabetes in China understood their A1c value. The patients who had a good understanding of their A1c demonstrated significantly better diabetes self-management behavior and had lower A1c levels than those who did not.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.|Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.|Nursing College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Shengnan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Nursing College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Hangzhou No.9 High School, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Cunyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hsue
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Missouri-St. Louis, affiliated with the ISP Fellowship Support Program, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Anne F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.affiliation: Nursing College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.|Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education & Senior Research Scientist, Michigan Diabetes Research & Training Center, Ann Arbor, United States of America.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003710:Demography; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin