Health literacy levels in patients with type 2 diabetes in an affluent Gulf country: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo identify health literacy levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).InterventionNationwide cross-sectional survey.Setting and participantsIndividuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending outpatient diabetes clinics in all emirates of the UAE were surveyed between January 2019 and May 2020. Out of 832 patients approached, 640 met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate.Outcome variablesThe outcome variable of interest was the health literacy level, which was measured using the Eastern-Middle Eastern Adult Health Literacy 13 Questionnaire. The association of health literacy level with age, gender and education was conducted using the X-2 test.ResultsOnly 11% of respondents had adequate health literacy levels. Age and education were directly correlated with health literacy levels. Patients under age 50 years had statistically significant higher rates of marginal (106 of 238, 44.5%) and adequate literacy (67 of 238, 28.2%, p<0.001) than the older population. Participants with bachelor's or postgraduate degrees also had significantly higher adequate health literacy levels (24 of 79, 30.4%, p<0.001).ConclusionsThe low health literacy levels found in outpatients with diabetes may be a major challenge to optimising diabetes care in the UAE. In addition to health services strategies, targeted educational and behavioural interventions for the older population and those with less formal education are necessary.