Factors Associated with Health Literacy and Diabetes Burden, and the Relationship Between Health Literacy and Diabetes Burden in Elderly Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Aim: Our study aims to investigate factors associated with health literacy and diabetes burden and the relationship between health literacy and diabetes burden in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study included 124 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who applied to the endocrinology and metabolic diseases outpatient clinic of a university hospital between January 2019 and June 2019. All the patients met the inclusion criteria. Sociodemographic characteristics and health information form, Health Literacy Scale, and Elderly Diabetes Burden Scale were used as research tools in the study. Results: 54% of the participants were women, and 76.6% were aged 65-74. A statistically significant difference was found in the total health literacy scores of the patients in terms of educational level, health status, income status, presence of chronic complications, presence of retinopathy, and nephropathy. A statistically significant difference was also found in the total scores of the Elderly Diabetes Burden Scale in terms of gender, educational level, health status, presence of other chronic diseases, duration of diabetes, types of diabetes treatment, presence of chronic complications, presence of retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and coronary artery disease. According to Spearman’s correlation coefficient analysis, a moderate negative correlation was found between the patients’ Health Literacy total score and Elderly Diabetes Burden Scale total score. Conclusion: In our study, it was determined that the burden of diabetes decreased as health literacy increased. Health professionals should focus on improving health literacy so that elderly diabetic patients can lead a more comfortable life, increase their ability to cope and adapt to the disease, and reduce the burden of diabetes.