Relationship between Patients' Perceived Capacity for Communication, Health Literacy and Diabetes Self-Care

Abstract

The mechanisms underlying the relationship among health literacy, perceived capacity for communication, diabetes knowledge, and diabetes self-care are unclear. This study tested this relationship using structural equation modeling with a sample of 137 Chinese patients aged 65 years or older with type 2 diabetes. The model showed that health literacy, knowledge, communication capacity, and diabetes self-care formed a complex relationship. After adjusting for age, education, and Chinese cultural influence, health literacy affected diabetes self-care indirectly via perceived capacity for communication (standardized estimate coefficient = .641, p< .001) but not diabetes knowledge. To enhance self-care, interventions should be tailored to increase patient health literacy and perceived capacity for communication with health care providers. Training should be provided to patients to enhance their communication abilities.