Publication: Health Literacy and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in the Northeast of Thailand
Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Globally, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is in increasing trend. With its chronic and incurable
natures, type 2 diabetes patients have been increasingly seeking various regiments
to relive their sufferings. However, magnitude and influencing factors are still unclear.
Objective
To identify prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine among type 2
diabetes patients and the association between health literacy and its use in the
Northeast region of Thailand.
Method
This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine use and the roles of health literacy on its use among
type 2 diabetes patients in the Northeast Region of Thailand. A total of 1,012 type
2 diabetes mellitus patients were systematic randomly selected to response to a
structured questionnaire interview. The generalized linear mixed model was applied
to identify factors associated with it.
Result
There were 30.89% (95% CI: 28.25 to 33.67) of type 2 diabetes patients used
complementary and alternative medicine. Majority of these patients (52.23%, 95%
CI: 49.30 to 55.15) had sufficient level of health literacy related to complementary
and alternative medicine. Type 2 diabetes patients who had sufficient to excellent
levels of health literacy had 2.64 times higher Odds of complementary and alternative
medicine use (95% CI: 1.91 to 3.65) when compared with those who had inadequate
to problematic levels of health literacy. Others covariates that were also associated
with complementary and alternative medicine use were had adequate income
(ORadj. = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.81 to 3.52), had HbA1C < 7 (OR Adj. = 2.50; 95%CI: 1.86 to
3.37) and had comorbidity (OR Adj. = 2.07; 95%CI: 1.57 to 2.73).
Conclusion
About thirty percent of type 2 diabetes patients used complementary and alternative
medicine. Health literacy, economic status, comorbidity and diabetic control had
strong influence on complementary and alternative medicine use.
KEY WORDS
Health literacy, Diabetes Mellitus, Northeast of Thailand
Description
Charoencheewakul C,1 Laohasiriwong W,2 Suwannaphant K,3 Sopon A4
1Doctor of Public Health Program, Faculty of Public
Health, Khon Kaen University,
2Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University,
Khon Kaen.
3Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Khon Kaen,
Thailand.
4Thailand Healthy Life Style Administered Office,
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Keywords
Health literacy, Diabetes Mellitus, Northeast of Thailand