Health Literacy and Health Service Needs on Promoting Health Literacy Among Individuals Newly Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes
Abstract
Health literacy is a crucial skill that influences motivation and the capacity for self-care among individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to explore the current state of health literacy and the needs for health service development among this population by employing sequential explanatory mixed methods design. The quantitative sample included 334 individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who were receiving care at diabetes clinics in Ministry of Public Health hospitals in a central province of Thailand. The qualitative data was obtained from 16 professional nurses and 30 participants with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Research instruments included a health literacy questionnaire with strong validity (I-CVI = 0.80–1.00, S-CVI = 0.97) and reliability (a = 0.97), together with a semi-structured interview guide. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.
The results showed that individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had a moderate level of health literacy (M = 3.35, SD = 0.50), with the highest scores in decision-making skills and the lowest in questioning (inquiry) skills. Qualitative findings revealed barriers related to access to health information, limited confidence in asking questions and communicating with healthcare providers, and challenges in sustaining self-management behaviors. Nurses also reported constraints within the healthcare system, particularly limited time for individualized education. Both individuals with type 2 diabetes and nurses identified similar needs for health service development, including the availability of diverse and easy-to-understand educational materials aligned with patients’ real-life contexts, as well as the importance of ongoing follow-up and telehealth-based consultation systems. The findings suggest that health literacy promotion among individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be implemented systematically through context-appropriate educational media and continuous support from nurses and multidisciplinary healthcare teams to strengthen self-management capacity and improve long-term diabetes control.
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