Diabetes awareness and knowledge among Latinos: Does a usual source of healthcare matter? Article

González, HM, Vega, WA, Rodríguez, MA et al. (2009). Diabetes awareness and knowledge among Latinos: Does a usual source of healthcare matter? . JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE, 24(3 SUPPL.), 10.1007/s11606-009-1076-8

cited authors

  • González, HM; Vega, WA; Rodríguez, MA; Tarraf, W; Sribney, WM

authors

abstract

  • Objective: To provide national prevalence estimates of usual source of healthcare (USHC), and examine the relationship between USHC and diabetes awareness and knowledge among Latinos using a modified Andersen model of healthcare access. Participants: Three thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine Latino (18-years or older) participants of the Pew Hispanic Center/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Hispanic/Latino Health survey from the 48 contiguous United States. Design: Cross-sectional, stratified, random sample telephone interviews. Methods: Self-reported healthcare service use was examined in regression models that included a past-year USHC as the main predictor of diabetes awareness and knowledge. Anderson model predisposing and enabling factors were included in additional statistical models. Results: Significant differences in USHC between Latino groups were found with Mexican Americans having the lowest rates (59.7%). USHC was associated with significantly higher diabetes awareness and knowledge (OR=1.24; 95%CI=1.05-1.46) after accounting for important healthcare access factors. Men were significantly (OR=0.64; 95%CI=0.52-0.75) less informed about diabetes than women. Conclusion: We found important and previously unreported differences between Latinos with a current USHC provider, where the predominant group, Mexican Americans, are the least likely to have access to a USHC. USHC was associated with Latinos being better informed about diabetes; however, socioeconomic barriers limit the availability of this potentially valuable tool for reducing the risks and burden of diabetes, which is a major public health problem facing Latinos. © 2009 Society of General Internal Medicine.

publication date

  • December 28, 2009

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

volume

  • 24

issue

  • 3 SUPPL.