The Relationship between Health Literacy and Self-efficacy in Patients with Type II Diabetes Admitted to Gorgan Diabetes Clinic in 2014

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic metabolic diseases. Health literacy is beyond one’s reading and writing knowledge and refers to making appropriate health decisions by patients. Self-efficacy is one’s understanding of his/her ability to control his/her behaviors and behavioral outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between health literacy and self-efficacy in patients with type II diabetes, referring to the diabetes clinic of Gorgan, Iran. In this descriptive, correlational study, 100 diabetic patients were selected via convenience random sampling in 2014. Data were collected using questionnaires on demographic characteristics, health literacy and self-efficacy. Data were analyzed by descriptive (e.g., mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistical tests (e.g., linear regression analysis, multiple regression and analysis of variance). Health literacy and self-efficacy scores of the participants were 86.7±21.9 (borderline) and 18.7±6.139 (moderate), respectively. There was a significant relationship between health literacy and educational level (P=0.01), occupational status (P= 0.02) and access to information (P=0.01). Moreover, there was a significant relationship between self-efficacy and educational level (P=0.01), occupational status (P=0.001) and access to information (P=0.04). Also, health literacy and self-efficacy were significantly associated (r=0.72 and P<0.01). Health literacy and self-efficacy in diabetic patients contribute to health prediction in these individuals. The importance and necessity of health literacy and self-efficacy in educational interventions for diabetic patients have highlighted the need for attention to these issues for promoting self-care in patients.