Diabetic health literacy and its association with glycemic control among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Despite how much effect of low health literacy is on diabetic treatment cannot be accurate, it has an impact on controlling blood glucose level. Less is known about diabetic health literacy in Ethiopian diabetic patients which can affect patient medication adherence, self-care, and glycemic control. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to assess the diabetic health literacy level and its association with glycemic control among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the outpatient clinic of University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UOGCSH): Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was employed at the outpatient clinic of the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from May, 1 –May 30, 2019. The comprehensive 15-items diabetic health literacy questions with a 5-point Likert scale used to measure diabetic health literacy. The mean score calculated and switched to the percentage (5 points as 100%) to determine the level of diabetic health literacy. Morisky Green Levine Scale 4 item adherence assessment tool was used to assess the diabetic patient's level of adherence. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between sociodemographic, clinical variables, diabetic-related literacy, and glycemic control. Independent samples t-test and One-way ANOVA test was employed to compare the mean literacy score difference in different groups. RESULT: 400 respondents were included in the study. Of all the respondents, 17.3%, 26.3%, and 56.5% had low, medium and high diabetic-related health literacy, respectively. The proportions of patients with low, medium and high adherence to medication were 9.8%, 56.3%, and 34% respectively. Patients with high diabetes literacy are 1.85 times more likely to achieve target glycemic control than lower diabetic literacy patients with 95% CI Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR). 1.85(1.09–3.40). While patients with good adherence 1.61 times more likely to achieve target glycemic control than patients with low adherence; 95% CI AOR 1.61(1.04–4.79). Diabetic patients with morbidity have 67% less likelihood to achieve the target glycemic control; 95% CI AOR 0.33(0.15–0.73). CONCLUSION: Adequate diabetic health literacy and better glycemic control are highly correlated. Adjusting all variables; younger age, high diabetic health literacy and good adherence are associated with achieving the target glycemic control.