Exploring Diabetes Management Behaviors Amongst Varying Health Literacy Levels: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract Background Diabetes is a controllable disease, yet many adults struggle with managing this disease and are living with uncontrolled diabetes. Often, this can be attributed to patients’ inadequate health literacy affecting their diabetes management behaviors. Objective The objective of this study was to explore perceived benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy of patients to learn about the influences on diabetes management behaviors among varying health literacy levels. Methods This study included patients at a pharmacist-led diabetes center in Indiana. Patients were contacted via phone and asked if they would like to participate. Data were collected via a 30-minute interview. Interview questions based on the Health Belief Model were asked to assess patients’ behaviors of diabetes management. For qualitative data analysis of interviews after transcription, codes were applied using the coding software NVivo (QSR International, Burlington, MA) with a combined deductive and inductive approach taken to code creation. Results There were no thematic differences in narratives of those with adequate versus inadequate health literacy regarding self-efficacy. However, participants with inadequate health literacy were more likely to rely on others to maintain self-efficacy. Conclusions Information gathered from this study will further the understanding of patients’ self-efficacy to manage diabetes and its influence by health literacy and support from others.