Health Literacy and Metabolic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Patients
Introduction
People with type 2 diabetes struggle with managing their condition. A significant factor is their low health literacy, which affects how well they access, understand, and use health information to take care of themselves.
Hypothesis
We believe that individuals with diabetes who take part in a program to boost their health literacy will see improvements in their metabolic control, specifically in their HbA1c levels.
Aim
This study aims to evaluate how a health literacy program affects metabolic control and self-confidence in managing diabetes among patients treated at primary care centers in Santiago, Chile.
Methods
We conducted a randomized clinical trial involving four primary care centers: two were intervention groups and two were control groups. The intervention groups received additional support, including face-to-face and phone counseling, group sessions, and multimedia resources over six months. We measured HbA1c levels before and after the intervention.
Results
There was no change in HbA1c levels in the intervention group. However, the control group’s levels worsened by 1 point. Participation in workshops was linked to improved health literacy. The intervention proved to be more effective than standard treatments in preventing HbA1c deterioration.
Conclusions
Implementing a tailored health literacy intervention in a culturally relevant way can positively impact HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
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