Health Literacy Factors Influencing Self-management of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes at Sai Ngam District, Kamphaeng Phet Province.

Abstract

        This mixed methods research was conducted to investigate the  health literacy  factors  that impact the  self-management  of patients  with  type 2 diabetes in  Sai  Ngam  District,   Kamphaeng  Phet  province.  A  sample  of 293  participants  was  gathered  through  multi - stage   random  sampling. Quantitative   research   methods   included   a   questionnaire  with   three sections:  a demographic,  economic,  and  social  survey;  a health  literacy survey;  and a  type 2  diabetes  self-management  survey.  Semi-structured interviews   were   employed  as   qualitative   research   tools.   Descriptive statistics included frequency,  percentage,  mean,  standard deviation,  and maximum and minimum values. Linear multiple regression statistics were analyzed using a stepwise selection method,  with the significance level set to 0.05.  Additionally,  content analysis was conducted via an interview.

         The  results  indicated  that  72.0%  of the sample was female,  with an average age of 59.87 ± 10.91 years. Furthermore, 74.1% had primary school education,  54.9% were farmers,  58.7% possessed low health  literacy,  and 46.1%  demonstrated  self-management  of  patients  with  type 2  Diabetes. The  health  literacy   factors  influencing  the  self-management  of  type  2  diabetic  patients  were  behavioral  practices (p-value  <  0.001 ,  β =  0.544) cognition  (p-value =  0.029 ,  β = 0.121)  and  making  the right  decisions in future  practices   or   living  conditions  (p-value =  0.043 ,   β =  0.125).  The content  analysis  results   revealed  that  the  sample  group  needed  to  be educated on proper diabetes self-management, with training and access to online  resources,  to  apply  the knowledge  in  everyday  life  easier. These findings  can be  utilized to  increase  health  literacy  among  patients with diabetes and chronic illnesses, allowing them to self-manage and maintain appropriate blood sugar levels.