Assessing Diabetes Health Literacy, Knowledge and Empowerment in Northern Portugal - New Contributions in Information Systems and Technologies - page 57

Assessing Diabetes Health Literacy, Knowledge
and Empowerment in Northern Portugal
Carminda S. Morais 1,2 , Rui E. Pimenta 1,3 , Pedro Lopes Ferreira 1,4 ,
José M. Boavida 5 , and José P. Amorim 6
1 CEISUC - Centro de Estudos e Investigação em Saúde da Universidade de Coimbra,
Avenida Dias da Silva, 165, 3004-512 Coimbra, Portugal
2 ESS/IPVC - Escola Superior de Saúde do Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo,
Rua D. Moisés Alves de Pinho, 4900-314, Viana do Castelo, Portugal
3 ESTSP/IPP - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto,
Rua Valente Perfeito, 322, 4400-330, Vila Nova de Gaia, Poretugal
4 FEUC - Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra,
Avenida Dias da Silva, 165, 3004-512 Coimbra, Portugal
5 DGS - Direção Geral da Saúde,
Alameda D. Afonso Henriques, 45, 1049-005 Lisboa
6 APNOR - Mestrado de Gestão das Organizações - Ramo de Gestão de Unidades de Saúde,
Escola Superior de Saúde do Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo,
Rua D. Moisés Alves de Pinho, 4900-314, Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Abstract. We evaluated the disease management, knowledge and quality of life
(QoL) of people with type 2 diabetes, followed in the ambulatory of a Hospital
in the North of Portugal. A questionnaire of socio-demographic and clinical
characterization, and Portuguese versions of the DES-SF, DKT and EQ-5D
were administered to a random sample of 260 individuals. The results showed
that people in general feel able of self-management, with a mean±SD score of
3.7±0.7. DKT registered 63.4±12.3% of correct answers among diabetes non-
insulin-treated individuals and 65.7±12.4% among the insulin-treated
(p<0.001). The QoL, evaluated through EQ-5D index, presented a mean value
of 0.65±0.3.
We evidenced a significant positive correlation between the ability to
control, the knowledge and the QoL. The conclusions obtained may help
promote QoL and literacy enhancement, as well as the empowerment of
individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Keywords: Empowerment, knowledge, quality of life, individuals with type 2
diabetes.
1 Introduction
Diabetes, a silent disease with slow evolution to chronicity, has been experiencing an
increasing prevalence worldwide, although it takes specific contours in the different
communities. Because of suffering, the impairment of quality of life (QoL) and the
high costs for diabetic people and their families, as well as Governments, in recent