The Relationship between Diabetic Patients' Health Literacy and HBA1c Level in Jordan

Abdel Qader Al Bawab; Walid Al-Qerem; Anan Jarab; Judith Eberhardt; Fawaz Alasmari; Alaa Hammad; Safa Alkaee; Zein Alsabaa

doi:10.35516/jjps.v18i3.2821

Authors

Abdel Qader Al Bawab Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Walid Al-Qerem Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Anan Jarab College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
Judith Eberhardt Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
Fawaz Alasmari Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh , Saudi Arabia
Alaa Hammad Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Safa Alkaee Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Zein Alsabaa Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Petra University, Amman, Jordan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/jjps.v18i3.2821

Keywords:

Health literacy, Diabetes Miletus, Jordan, HBA1c, glycemic control

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore how diabetic health literacy influences glycated hemoglobin HbA1c levels—a crucial marker of long-term blood sugar control—in Jordanian patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Over a four-month period at a major public hospital in Amman, we enrolled 400 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in this cross-sectional study. The study used the Jordanian Diabetic Health Literacy Questionnaire (JDHLQ). This validated tool assesses health literacy among Arabic-speaking individuals.

Results: The findings revealed a significant link between higher health literacy scores and lower HbA1c levels. Specifically, each additional point on the JDHLQ was associated with a 0.040 decrease in HbA1c (95% CI [-0.078, -0.003], p=0.035). Patients taking more medications and those without insurance also had significantly higher HbA1c levels.

Conclusion: These results highlight the vital role of health literacy in managing diabetes effectively and support the implementation of targeted educational programs to improve patient outcomes in Jordan. The study emphasizes the need for policy improvements in diabetes care.

Practice Implications: Understanding the key factors that influence disease control in type 2 diabetes patients—including the impact of health literacy—is essential for developing targeted interventions, enhancing patient outcomes, and reducing the strain of diabetes on the healthcare system.

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