Racial/ethnic differences in multiple self-care behaviors in adults with diabetes. J Gen Intern Med 2007 Jan;22(1):115-20
Date
03/14/2007Pubmed ID
17351850Pubmed Central ID
PMC1824783DOI
10.1007/s11606-007-0120-9Scopus ID
2-s2.0-34248579651 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 76 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess racial/ethnic differences in multiple diabetes self-care behaviors.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
PARTICIPANTS: 21,459 participants with diabetes in the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance survey.
MEASUREMENTS: The study assessed self-care behaviors including physical activity, fruits/vegetables consumption, glucose testing, and foot examination, as well as a composite of the 4 self-care behaviors across racial/ethnic groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the independent association between race/ethnicity, the composite variable, and each self-care behavior controlling for covariates. STATA was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS: Overall, 6% engaged in all 4 self-care behaviors, with a range of 5% in non-insulin users to 8% in insulin users. Blacks were less likely to exercise (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.51, 0.79), while Hispanics and "others" were not significantly different from whites. Hispanics (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49, 0.82) and others (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49, 0.96) were less likely to do home glucose testing, while blacks were not significantly different from whites. Blacks (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.12, 1.80) were more likely to do home foot examinations, while Hispanics and others were not significantly different from whites. Blacks (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36, 0.87) were less likely to engage in all 4 behaviors, while Hispanics and others were not significantly different from whites. There were no significant racial/ethnic differences in fruit and vegetable consumption.
CONCLUSIONS: Few patients engage in multiple self-care behaviors at recommended levels, and there are significant racial/ethnic differences in physical activity, dietary, and foot care behaviors among adults with diabetes.
Author List
Nwasuruba C, Khan M, Egede LEMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Aged
Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetic Foot
Diet
Exercise
Female
Fruit
Health Behavior
Health Education
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Self Care
Self-Examination
United States
Vegetables
