Associations Between Self-Management Education and Comprehensive Diabetes Clinical Care

Abstract

Abstract Objective. This study examines the relationship between receiving diabetes self-management education (DSME) and having higher levels of comprehensive diabetes clinical care, a summation of up to five clinical services recommended for individuals with type 2 diabetes and those who have had type 1 diabetes for ≥ 5 years. Design. Analysis of data from a population-based, cross-sectional study. Methods. Data for this study were from the 2007 Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a statewide, random, cross-sectional survey of adults. A dichotomous comprehensive diabetes clinical care variable was constructed based on responses to questions from the BRFSS diabetes module, and a logistic regression model was fitted. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) are reported. Results. Among Florida adults with diabetes, 51.5% had received DSME. About 51.4% of adults with diabetes who received DSME had a high level of comprehensive care compared to 31.8% of those who did not receive DSME. The OR for having a high level of comprehensive care was statistically significantly higher among adults who received DSME (OR = 2.48) compared to their counterparts who did not receive DSME. Other significant covariates were having health insurance (OR = 3.65), having graduated from high school (OR = 1.55), having a college education (OR = 2.70), being 45-64 years of age (OR = 2.31), and being ≥ 65 years of age (OR = 5.29). Conclusions. These data show that receiving DSME is positively associated with receiving higher levels of comprehensive diabetes clinical care.