Michele Heisler|John D. Piette|Michael S. Spencer|Edie Kieffer|Sandeep Vijan
The Relationship Between Knowledge of Recent HbA1c Values and Diabetes Care Understanding and Self-Management
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
knowledge ones actual target health outcomes hba1c values hypothesized prerequisite effective patient involvement managing chronic diseases diabetes examined 1 frequency correlates knowing ones recent hba1c test result 2 whether knowing ones hba1c value associated accurate assessment diabetes control better diabetes selfcare understanding selfefficacy behaviors related glycemic controlwe conducted crosssectional survey sample 686 us adults type 2 diabetes five health systems hba1c checked previous 6 months independent variables included patient characteristics health care provider communication health system type examined bivariate multivariate associations variable respondents knowledge last hba1c values assessed whether knowledge hba1c associated key diabetes care attitudes behaviorsof respondents 66 reported know last hba1c value 25 accurately reported value multivariate analyses years formal education high evaluations provider thoroughness communication independently associated hba1c knowledge respondents knew last hba1c value higher odds accurately assessing diabetes control adjusted odds ratio 159 95 ci 105242 better reported understanding diabetes care p 0001 hba1c knowledge associated respondents diabetes care selfefficacy reported selfmanagement behaviorsrespondents knew hba1c values reported better diabetes care understanding assessment glycemic control knowledge ones hba1c level alone however sufficient translate increased understanding diabetes care increased confidence motivation necessary improve patients diabetes selfmanagement strategies provide information patients must combined behavioral strategies motivate help patients effectively manage diabetes