Do people with diabetes understand their clinical marker of long-term glycemic control (HbA1c levels) and does this predict diabetes self-care behaviours and HbA1c?
Received 15 May 2009; received in revised form 3 November 2009; accepted 6 November 2009. published online 25 December 2009.
Abstract
Objective
Research demonstrates that patients have a poor understanding of glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and that this impacts on effective diabetes self-management. This study attempted to replicate these findings in a UK outpatient sample of people with diabetes.
Method
83 participants were recruited and asked to fill in a questionnaire assessing their understanding of HbA1c, diabetes self-care behaviours and diabetes-specific self-efficacy in relation to carrying out these self-care behaviours.
Results
Only 26.5% of the participants were classified as having a good understanding of HbA1c. Correlational and univariate analyses indicated that this level of understanding was related to demographic variables, HbA1c levels and certain aspects of self-care and self-efficacy. A series of multiple regressions found that understanding was a significant predictor of HbA1c levels.
Conclusion
The majority of participants seemed to have a poor understanding of HbA1c and this was related to aspects of their diabetes management, self-efficacy and HbA1c levels.
Practical implications
These findings provide support for the application of programmes and initiatives aimed at improving patients understanding of clinical disease markers.
Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, WC1E 7HN, United Kingdom
Corresponding author at: Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, Brook House, 2-16 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HN, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 02076798306.
ABSTRACT