Social inequalities in the self-management of type 1 diabetes: A serial multiple mediation analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110418
Author(s):  
Sabina Wagner ◽  
Kasper Olesen

Aims Diabetes requires complex self-management. Due to this complexity, social disparities exist in the self-management of type 1 diabetes. Various pathways to describe associations between socio-economic factors and health outcomes have been suggested. We sought to elucidate the potential of health literacy and social support to reduce social disparities in diabetes self-management. Methods Questionnaire responses were linked to data from electronic medical records, yielding a study population of 1186 people with type 1 diabetes. Mediation analyses using adjusted linear regressions were used to establish pathways between self-reported educational attainment, social support, functional health literacy and clinically obtained measures of glycaemic control. Results We found evidence of an association between education and glycated haemoglobin, partially mediated by functional health literacy and social support. However, the direct association between social support and glycaemic control was not statistically significant. Conclusions Whilst both functional health literacy and social support play a role in glycaemic control, our findings did not explain the main impact of social disparities on glycaemic control. Interventions to reduce disparities in glycaemic control related to educational attainment should focus beyond functional health literacy and social support.

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-172
Author(s):  
Dalia Al-Abdulrazzaq ◽  
Abdullah Al-Taiar ◽  
Muneera Al-Haddad ◽  
Abeer Al-Tararwa ◽  
Nabeela Al-Zanati ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of use and reliability of the Arabic version of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS-Ar) in parents of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods The final translated version of NVS-Ar was administered to 175 adult caregivers of children with T1D who are native Arabic speakers. The association between NVS-Ar scores for the parents/legal guardians and A1C for their children was assessed. The internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach’s α, and reliability was assessed by test-retest method. Results The median (interquartile range) score was 4.0 (3-5). The internal consistency of the NVS-Ar was moderate (α = .58). The intraclass correlation coefficient was .61. There was no correlation between NVS-Ar score and A1C (Spearman’s ρ = .055; P = .62). Furthermore, there was significant inverse association between adequate health literacy and optimal glycemic control among the children, which remained evident even after adjusting for the duration of T1D, age, or education of the parents/guardians. However, it lost statistical significance after adjustment for treatment regimen. Conclusion Study findings indicate that the NVS is unlikely to be a predictive tool for functional health literacy in Arabic settings and that there is a need to properly translate and validate other tools such as the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults or, alternatively, to develop a reliable tool.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 237796082110058
Author(s):  
Ronald L. Hickman ◽  
John M. Clochesy ◽  
Marym Alaamri

Introduction Hypertension is a life-limiting, chronic condition affecting millions of Americans. Modifiable factors, quality of the patient-provider interaction and functional health literacy, have been linked to effective hypertension self-management. However, there has been limited interventional research targeting these modifiable factors. Electronic hypertension self-management interventions, in particular those incorporating virtual simulation, may positively influence the quality of the patient-provider interaction and functional health literacy status of adults with hypertension. Yet there is a dearth of evidence examining the efficacy of eHealth interventions targeting these modifiable factors of hypertension self-management. Objective Evaluate the effects of two electronic hypertension self-management interventions on the quality of the patient-provider interaction and functional health literacy in adults with hypertension. Methods A convenience sample of community-dwelling adults (>18 years) with hypertension were recruited and randomized to an avatar-based simulation (eSMART-HTN) or a video presentation on hypertension self-management (attention control). Participants were administered questionnaires to capture demographic characteristics, the quality of the patient-provider interaction, and functional health literacy. Questionnaire data were collected at baseline, and then monthly across three months. Two separate repeated measures analysis of covariance models were conducted to assess the effects of the interventions across the time points. Results The sample included 109 participants who were predominately middle-aged and older, nonwhite, and female. Scores for the quality of the patient-provider interaction demonstrated significant within-group changes across time. However, there were no significant differences in the quality of the patient-provider interaction or functional health literacy scores between experimental conditions while adjusting for covariates. Conclusion An avatar-based simulation (eSMART-HTN) intervention proved to have a positive effect on patient-provider interaction compared to an attention control condition. Although the results are promising, future research is needed to optimize the effectiveness of eSMART-HTN and enhance its efficacy and scalability in a larger cohort of adults with hypertension.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (23-24) ◽  
pp. 4478-4487
Author(s):  
Dan Luo ◽  
Jing-Jing Xu ◽  
Xue Cai ◽  
Min Zhu ◽  
Hong Wang ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Padmore Amoah

It is well established that health literacy positively affects health outcomes, and social support influences this association. What remains unclear is which aspect of social support (instrumental, informational, and emotional support) is responsible for this effect and whether the influence differs from one population group to another. This study addresses these lacunae. It examines the impact each type of support makes on the relation between functional health literacy (FHL) and self-rated health status among younger and older adults in Ghana. Data were pooled from two cross-sectional surveys, together comprising 521 participants in the Ashanti Region. The results indicated that young adults were more likely to possess sufficient FHL and perceive their health more positively than older adults. While FHL was positively associated with health status, the relation was stronger when young adults received a high level of emotional support. Among older persons, informational support substantially moderated the association between FHL and health status. Thus, social support modifies the relations between FHL and health status among younger and older adults in different ways and to different degrees. Therefore, interventions to improve FHL and health amongst younger and older adults should pay due regard to relevant aspects of social support.


2022 ◽  
pp. 174239532110733
Author(s):  
Lennert Griese ◽  
Doris Schaeffer ◽  
Eva-Maria Berens

Objectives People with chronic illness are particularly dependent on navigating and using the health care system. This requires navigational health literacy (HL-NAV). The article aims to examine the distribution and predictors of HL-NAV in a sample of chronically ill individuals. Methods Data of 1,105 people with chronic illness from the general population in Germany were collected in December 2019 and January 2020. HL-NAV was assessed by 12 items (score 0–100). Bivariate and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. Results HL-NAV score was 39.1 (SD 27.3). In bivariate analyses, HL-NAV was lower among chronically ill persons aged 65 or above, with low education, limited functional health literacy, low social status, financial deprivation, poor social support, multiple chronic conditions, and an illness duration of 6–10 years. In multivariate analyses, advanced age, lower education, less functional health literacy, lower social status, and less social support remained associated with lower HL-NAV. Discussion The results underline the importance of promoting HL-NAV among people with chronic illness. Strategies should aim at strengthening individual competencies taking into account the social and situational factors but also at reducing the demands placed on chronically ill people by providing user-friendly and trustworthy information on the health care system along the illness trajectory.


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