Research Information System
3. Uluslararası 4. Ulusal Halk Sağlığı Hemşireliği Kongresi, Ankara, Turkey, 11 - 13 January 2023, pp.1
Abstract
Introduction and Purpose: The period between
registering normal glucose metabolism and unmistakable diabetes mellitus (DM) is
known as the “prediabetic period” and evolves into unmistakable Type 2 DM in
5%-10% of individuals (1,2). In 2020, one out of every three
Americans is a prediabetic. More importantly, eight
out of every ten adults are unaware that they are prediabetic (3). According to the data of the World Health
Organization (WHO), 1.5 million people lost their lives to diabetes
in 2019. Almost half of these deaths (48%) were individuals under the age of 70
(4). The aim of this
study is to determine actual and perceived diabetes risk in individuals aged
≥45 and their health literacy levels.
Methods and Materials: The study is
of descriptive, correlational design and was conducted with 82 university staff
members of ages ≥45 years. The population of the study comprised 240
individuals, ages 45 and over, who were staff personnel at a state university
as of 2020. Sample size, as calculated in this known population,
was found to be 147. The sample group was made up of individuals
volunteering to participate in the study over the period July 2020-May 2021.
Since the data collection phase of the study coincided with the COVID-19
pandemic, the targeted sample size could not be reached, and the research was
carried out with 82 (55.7%) individuals. Along with Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC), was used to collect data
of the question, “Please comment on your diabetes risk?” and the Health
Literacy Scale for Turkey (HLST-32). This study was approved by Ethics
committee of a
State University Clinical Research Ethics Committee
(Approval No: E.12759 dated
29/06/2020). Online informed consent was obtained from the
participants who agreed to take part in the study.
Results: About of twenty-six percent for the participants exhibited a high/very high
actual diabetes mellitus risk. A positive and significant correlation was found
between the participants’ actual and perceived risk of diabetes mellitus
(r=0.771, p<0.001). Seventy-two percent of the individuals displayed
inadequate, problematic/limited levels of health literacy. There was no significant correlation between actual and perceived diabetes
mellitus risk and health
literacy scores.
Conclusion: Individuals are aware that they are at risk of developing diabetes
mellitus. About three out of every four participants had a low health literacy
level. The fact that a more educated group such as university personnel
demonstrated low health literacy compared to the general public is an issue
that must be addressed.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, actual risk, perceived risk, health literacy,
university staff
References
1. Republic of
Turkey, Ministry of Health, Turkey Public Health Institution. Turkish Diabetes
Programme, 2015-2020. Ankara: Kuban Publication.
2. Tabák AG,
Herder C, Rathmann W, et al. Prediabetes: A high-risk state for diabetes
development. Lancet. 2012;379(9833):2279-90. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60283-9
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report. Atlanta, GA: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2020.
4. World Health Organization (WHO-2021). Diabetes Key Facts. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes