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

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.