Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a non-communicable disease, resulting in consequences on morbidity and mortality. In Thailand, Diabetes Mellitus is a crucial public health problem with increasing prevalence. Health literacy played an important role to improve health outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus. Health literacy addresses a capability of patients with diabetes mellitus particularly those at risks for complications. Therefore, health literacy is crucial to achieve the optimal goal of diabetic treatment. However, studies on health literacy in Thai adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus are limited. This study aimed to describe health literacy in Thai adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Methods:
Descriptive methods were employed in this study. Through convenience sampling, a sample of 300, who met the following inclusion criteria: 1) aged equal or more than 20 years; 2) had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus; 3) being treated with anti-hyperglycemic medications integrated with herbal use. Data were collected using questionnaires on personal information and health literacy, and record form for fasting blood glucose. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results:
The results showed that most of the participants were female (60.3%) with a mean age of 53.27 (SD 9.49) years, ranging from 29-84 years old. Fifty-five percent of the participants graduated from secondary school while one-fourth (21%) completed bachelor’s degree. One-third of the participants were farmers. Average time diagnosed with diabetes mellitus was 5.24 (SD 3.41) years. Mean fasting blood glucose level was 151.37 (SD 43.47) mg/dl; body mass index was 24.59 (SD 4.15) kg/m2. Most of them had co-morbidity (62%). Overall health literacy was averaged at 2.56 (SD 0.39). Subscale with the highest score was Critical health literacy (3.32, SD 0.44), following by interactive health literacy (2.41, SD 0.30). The lowest score was functional health literacy (2.11, SD 0.69).
Conclusion:
Results from this study suggested that functional health literacy should be promoted among the patients with type 2 diabetes who take anti-hyperglycemic medications integrated with herbal use.