Ayurpharmacoepidemiology Perspective: Health Literacy (Knowledge and Practice) Among Older Diabetes Patients Visiting Ayurveda Teaching Hospitals in India. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Debnath, Parikshit; Natasha, Khurshid; Ali, Liaquat; Bhaduri, Tapas; Roy, Tushar Kanti; Bera, Sayantan; Mukherjee, Debdeep; Debnath, Swati
• Is Part Of: Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine. Volume 22:Number 2(2017:Apr.)
• Page Start: 242
• Page End: 250
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: health literacy -- knowledge -- practice -- diabetes -- ayurpharmacoepidemiology; Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; Complementary Therapies -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1177/2156587216643641
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2156-5872

Abstract

Older Indian diabetics lack proper health literacy making them vulnerable to complications. Assessment of health literacy was done by hospital-based cross-sectional study. Face-to-face interview was conducted by pretested structured questionnaires. Diabetes patients aged ≥60 years consisted of 56.22% males and 43.78% females; in addition, 34.2% respondents were without formal schooling. Diabetes was known to 63.56% respondents. Total knowledge and practice score of the respondents was good (18.9% and 35.1%), average (30.7% and 46.9%), and poor (50.4% and 18%), respectively. Knowledge and practice score was strongly associated ( P < .01) with religion, educational status, and diabetes duration with positive relationship ( R 2 = 0.247, P < .01) between knowledge and practice score. The study highlights lack of health literacy among older diabetics undergoing ayurveda management. Baseline statistics will pave the way toward ayurpharmacoepidemiology.