Christy J. W. Ledford|Dean A. Seehusen|Paul Crawford
Geographic and Race/Ethnicity Differences in Patient Perceptions of Diabetes
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences|Augusta University|Mike O'Callaghan Federal Medical Center
present study takes culturecentered approach better understand experiences culture affect patients perception type 2 diabetes mellitus t2dm study explores personal models t2dm compares personal models across regional raceethnicity differencesin practicebased research network crosssectional survey distributed patients diagnosed t2dm medical centers nevada georgia analyses covariance controlling age health literacy patient activation geographic location raceethnicity tested onto 5 dimensions illness representationamong 685 patients raceethnicity significantly associated lower reported understanding diabetes p 01 less perceived longevity diabetes p 001 geographic location significantly associated seriousness disease p 005 impact diabetes p 001nonhispanic white americans report greater understanding perceive longer disease course nonhispanic black americans asian americans regionally patients nevada perceive t2dm serious impact lives patients living georgia primary care physicians elicit patient perceptions diabetes within context patients ethnic geographic culture group improve discussions diabetes selfmanagement specifically primary care physicians address seriousness diabetes diagnosis chronic nature disease patients belong communities higher prevalence disease