Diabetes Knowledge among Older Chinese Adults with Diabetes in Beijing, China

Background: Knowledge of diabetes is an important component of diabetes self-management. The study explored the relationships of demographic and clinical variables and attendance at diabetes educational programs with diabetes knowledge among a community sample of older Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes residing in Beijing.

Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted with 108 older adults with type 2 diabetes and an average age of 68 (SD = 8.41) years residing in six residential apartment complexes in Beijing. Participants reported themselves as having a medical diagnosis of diabetes. Along with an assessment of diabetes knowledge and diabetes self-care activities, assessments of glucose, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were obtained. In addition, questions were asked about participation in exercise, attendance at diabetes education classes, and visits to health care professionals.

Results: Age and systolic blood pressure were negatively associated with diabetes knowledge. Diabetes knowledge was not related to diabetes self-care activities or glucose level. A regression model with demographic and clinical variables significantly predicted diabetes knowledge, explaining 31% of the variance in knowledge. Participants who had a family history of diabetes, visited Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors and ophthalmologists and attended diabetes educational programs were more likely to have high scores on diabetes knowledge.

Conclusion: Public health nurses need to provide age-specific, low literacy and family-focused diabetes education programs and consider integrating principles and holistic perspectives of TMC in diabetes educational programs for older Chinese with diabetes.