Assessment of Health Literacy among Patients with Diabetes: Development of a Model for the Improvement of Health Literacy

Abstract

Background: Health literacy refers to the skills and abilities people acquire, analyze, and understand regarding basic health information and services they need so that they can contribute to their health issues and make the right decision. Moreover, given the importance of diabetes in the world and in Iran, as well as the impact of health information literacy on the quality of life and control of diabetes, this study aimed to evaluate health information literacy of type 2 diabetic patients and design an information service model for promoting their health information literacy. Method: In this study, semi-structured interviews were used to collect the qualitative data needed to present the model. In the qualitative method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 health literacy experts selected through purposive sampling. The Grounded Theory method was then used for analyzing interviews and explaining related dimensions and components. Results: In total, five categories (nutritional factors, media development, physical activity, inclusive education, as well as racial and age consciousness) and a core category of "type 2 diabetes recognition" were identified in this study. Conclusion: It was found that diabetes type 2 was heavily influenced by lifestyle and education factors. Finally, according to the interviews, a model was developed to improve the health literacy of diabetic patients.