Disparities in Diabetes Education Program Use by Disability Status Among People with Diabetes: Findings from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2015

Background: Patients with diabetes and disabilities often have more difficulties in managing their diabetes. Little is known about how disabilities affect their use of diabetes education program. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between disabilities and diabetes education program use for patients with diabetes and to identify factors associated with diabetes education program use. Method: Data were from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and included patients with diabetes aged >= 18 years (N = 22 375). Logistic regression was used to investigate the effects of disabilities, sociodemographics, and diabetes-related factors. Results: People with disabilities were 14% less likely to use diabetes education programs than people without (P < .05). Impairment types, health insurance, and number of complications were associated with diabetes education program use for people with disabilities. Discussion: The findings suggest that individuals with disabilities have more barriers to using diabetes education programs and there might be a disparity due to disability types. Translation to Health Education Practice: Health/diabetes educators need to reach out to people with both diabetes and disabilities and make the program accessible, particularly for those who have a vision impairment, cognitive impairment, or multiple impairments; have fewer complications; and have no health insurance. A AJHE Self-Study quiz is online for this article via the SHAPE America Online Institute (SAOI) http://portal.shapeamerica.org/trn-Webinars