The Influence of Health Literacy and Depression on Diabetes Self-Management: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Despite an increasing focus on health literacy in the clinical setting and in the literature, there is still ongoing debate about its influence on diabetes self-management. The aim of the study was to examine the relationships of sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors on health literacy and diabetes self-management. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken on 224 patients with type 2 diabetes at two diabetes centres in Sydney, Australia. Findings showed that people with low health literacy were more likely to (a) have lower educational attainment; (b) be migrants; and (c) have depressed mood. Unexpectedly, those who met HbA1c threshold of good glucose control were more likely to have low health literacy. Predictors of low diabetes self-management included (a) younger age group (AOR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.24-4.64); (b) having postsecondary education (AOR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.05-5.01); (c) low knowledge of diabetes management (AOR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.25-4.20); and (d) having depressed mood (AOR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.30-4.06). The finding that depressed mood predicted both low health literacy and low diabetes self-management stresses the importance of screening for depression. Increasing people's understanding of diabetes self-management and supporting those with depression are crucial to enhance participation in diabetes self-management.
South Western Sydney Local Health District, 59a Cumberland Road, Ingleburn, NSW 2565, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; Centre for Applied Nursing Research, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool, NSW 1871, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, P.O. Box 3151, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
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0000-0001-6475-8804
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Maneze
South Western Sydney Local Health District, 59a Cumberland Road, Ingleburn, NSW 2565, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; Centre for Applied Nursing Research, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool, NSW 1871, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, P.O. Box 3151, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
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Everett
South Western Sydney Local Health District, 59a Cumberland Road, Ingleburn, NSW 2565, Australia.
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Astorga
South Western Sydney Local Health District, 59a Cumberland Road, Ingleburn, NSW 2565, Australia.
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Yogendran
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; Centre for Applied Nursing Research, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool, NSW 1871, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, P.O. Box 3151, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
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Salamonson
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D004522:Educational Status; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human