Faculty Collaboration Database

Quantifying direct effects of social determinants of health on glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther 2015 Feb;17(2):80-7

Date

11/02/2014

Pubmed ID

25361382

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4322090

DOI

10.1089/dia.2014.0166

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84922453988 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   42 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate if self-care is the pathway through which social determinants of health impact diabetes outcomes by analyzing the direct and indirect effects of socioeconomic and psychosocial factors on self-care and glycemic control.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Six hundred fifteen adults were recruited from two primary care clinics in the southeastern United States. A series of confirmatory factor analyses identified the latent factors underlying social status, psychosocial determinants (psychological distress, self-efficacy, and social support), and self-care (diet, exercise, foot care, glucose testing, and medication adherence). Structured equation modeling investigated the relationship among social determinants, self-care and glycemic control.

RESULTS: Latent variables were created for diabetes self-care, psychological distress, self-efficacy, social support, and social status. The final model [χ(2)(275)=450.07, P<0.001, R(2)=99, root mean square error of approximation=0.03, comparative fit index=0.98] showed lower psychological distress (r=-0.13, P=0.012), higher social support (r=0.14, P=0.01), and higher self-efficacy (r=0.47, P<0.001) were significantly related to diabetes self-care. Lower psychological distress (r=0.10, P=0.03), lower social support (r=0.10, P=0.02), and higher self-efficacy (r=-0.37, P<0.001) were significantly related to lower glycemic control. When social determinants of health variables were included in the model, self-care was no longer significantly associated with glycemic control (r=0.01, P=0.83).

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a direct relationship between psychosocial determinants of health and glycemic control. Although associated with self-care, the relationship between social determinants of health and glycemic control is not mediated by self-care. Development of interventions should take psychosocial factors into account as independent influences on diabetes outcomes, rather than as indirect influences via self-care behavior.

Author List

Walker RJ, Gebregziabher M, Martin-Harris B, Egede LE

Authors

Leonard E. Egede MD Center Director, Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Rebekah Walker PhD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Blood Glucose
Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Exercise
Feeding Behavior
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Male
Medication Adherence
Middle Aged
Self Care
Social Determinants of Health
Social Support
Southeastern United States