Adequacy of health literacy and its effect on diabetes self-management: a meta-analysis
Xiu-mei Guo A , Xia Zhai A and Bo-ru Hou B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Outpatient, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, No. 82, Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Gansu 730030, China.
B Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, No. 82, Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China.
C Corresponding author. Email: friend7412@126.com
Australian Journal of Primary Health 26(6) 458-465 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20079
Submitted: 8 April 2020 Accepted: 28 September 2020 Published: 10 December 2020
Abstract
This study evaluated the role of health literacy (HL) in the self-management of diabetes. A literature search was conducted in electronic databases and studies were selected using precise eligibility criteria. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the HL adequacy rate, factors affecting the adequacy of HL and correlations between HL and diabetes self-management variables. Thirty-three studies were included in the analysis. The HL adequacy rate was 67% (95% confidence interval (CI) 57, 76). Compared with patients with inadequate HL, patients with adequate HL were younger (mean difference –5.2 years; 95% CI −7.2, −3.2; P < 0.00001), more likely to have a high school or higher level of education (odds ratio (OR) 8.39; 95% CI 5.03, 13.99]; P < 0.00001) and were less likely to belong to a low-income group (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.23, 0.56; P < 0.00001). HL was positively correlated with self-monitoring (r = 0.19; 95% CI 0.11, 0.27; P < 0.00001), dietary and physical care (r = 0.12; 95% CI 0.07, 0.18; P = 0.009), diabetes knowledge (r = 0.29; 95% CI 0.09, 0.45; P < 0.001), self-efficacy (r = 0.28; 95% CI 0.15, 0.41; P < 0.00001), self-care (0.24; 95% CI 0.16, 0.31; P < 0.00001), formal education (r = 0.35; 95% CI 0.18, 0.53; P < 0.00001) and social support (r = 0.2; 95% CI 0.07, 0.33; P < 0.00001). Patient age (r = −0.28; 95% CI −0.39, −0.17; P < 0.00001) was inversely correlated with HL. In conclusion, 67% of diabetes patients had adequate HL, with a higher rate among better educated and higher income groups. HL had a statistically significant but weak positive correlation with diabetes self-management variables.
Keywords: correlations, diabetes mellitus, health literacy, meta-analysis, self-care.
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