Diabetes Numeracy

• DOI: 10.2337/dc09-0425
• Publication Date: 2009-04-29T01:33:37Z
• Authors: Chandra Y. Osborn; Kerri Cavanaugh; Kenneth A. Wallston; Richard O. White; Russell L. Rothman
• Keywords: Numeracy; Health Literacy; Research Design

OBJECTIVE Understanding the reasons and eliminating pervasive health disparities in diabetes is a major research, clinical, policy goal. We examined whether literacy, general numeracy, diabetes-related numeracy explain association between African American race poor glycemic control (A1C) patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Adults type 2 (n = 383) were enrolled cross-sectional study at primary care clinics three medical centers. Data collected included following: self-reported race, A1C, sociodemographic factors. A series of structural equation models estimated to explore interrelations variables test for mediation. RESULTS In model 1, younger age (r −0.21, P < 0.001), insulin use 0.27, greater years 0.16, 0.01), 0.12, 0.01) all associated poorer control. 2, emerged as strong predictor A1C −0.46, reducing nonsignificance 0.10, NS). 3, older lower numeracy; age, use, more diabetes, CONCLUSIONS Diabetes-related reduced explanatory power such that low not was significantly related Interventions address could help reduce racial