A path model linking health literacy, medication self-efficacy, medication adherence, and glycemic control
Journal
Patient education and counseling
Journal Volume
101
Journal Issue
11
Pages
1906
Date Issued
2018-11
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective: To investigate whether medication self-efficacy moderates or mediates the relationship between health literacy and medication adherence. To propose a path model that illustrates the interrelated relationship between health literacy, medication self-efficacy, medication adherence, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed via a face-to-face survey. Factors that may influence medication adherence and HbA1c were identified from the literature review. One hundred and seventy-four participants included were ≥20 years old with diagnosed type 2 diabetes, understood English, and were prescribed at least one oral diabetes medicine. During clinic visits, a questionnaire was administered to evaluate health literacy, medication self-efficacy, and medication adherence. HbA1c values were obtained from electronic medical records. Path analyses were conducted for data analysis.
Results: Medication self-efficacy mediated but did not moderate the relationship between numeracy and diabetes medication adherence. Participants with higher numeracy skills may develop a greater level of medication self-efficacy, which in turn may result in a higher level of diabetes medication adherence and a lower level of HbA1c.
Conclusion: Enhancing patients' medication self-efficacy and numeracy skills may be imperative in intervention programs to improve diabetes medication adherence.
Practice implications: An improvement in numeracy skills and medication self-efficacy is recommended to enhance diabetes medication adherence.
Subjects
Diabetes; Document literacy; Health literacy; Medication adherence; Numeracy; Self-efficacy
SDGs
Type
journal article