Relationship of Provider-Patient Communication and Health Literacy to Self-Management in Black Adults With Type-2 Diabetes

Abstract

Black adults in the United States are nearly twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and are more susceptible to severe diabetes-related complications. Health literacy and patient-provider communication (PPC) are extremely important for self-management in patients of all ethnicities however, 58% of non-Hispanic Blacks have basic or below-basic health literacy skills compared to 28% of non-Hispanic Whites. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study, with was guided by the interaction model of client behavior, was to determine (a) if there is relationship between PPC during the healthcare encounter to health literacy among Black adults with T2DM and (b) if there is a relationship between PPC during the healthcare encounter and self-care behaviors among Black adults with T2DM. Data from 58 participants were analyzed using simple linear regression and showed a significant relationship (p < .001], and R²= .126. between PPC during the healthcare encounter to health literacy among Black adults and a significant relationship (p < .001], and R²= .285 between PPC during the healthcare encounter and self-care behaviors among Black adults. Future research should examine how both health literacy and PPC jointly influence self-management behaviors among Black adults with T2DM. This study provides further evidence that both health literacy and PPC are essential components of effective self-management in individuals with T2DM. Adequate health literacy and quality PPC contribute to reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes among Black adults with T2DM which affects positive social change.