HEALTH LITERACY AMONG PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS IN THE PRIJEDOR REGION

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Health literacy refers to an individual's ability to access, understand, and utilize health- related information in order to make appropriate decisions regarding their health. Among individuals with diabetes mellitus, health literacy is of particular importance due to the complexity of disease self- management, treatment adherence, and prevention of complications. Objective. To assess the level of health literacy among individuals with diabetes mellitus and to examine the association between sociodemographic characteristics and health literacy.

Material and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 1 and June 1, 2025, among 61 members of the Diabetes Association of Prijedor. Health literacy was assessed using the standardized Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ-24), which comprises five domains: etiology and symptoms of diabetes, intermediate level of care, diabetes-related complications, diet and treatment, and basic care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, Student’s t-test, and one-way analysis of variance, with the level of statistical significance set at p<0,05.

Results. The study sample consisted of 36.1% men and 63.9% women, with a mean age of 55.26 years. Participants demonstrated the highest level of knowledge in the domain of basic care (Mean = 2.90), whereas the lowest level of knowledge was observed in the intermediate care domain (Mean = 0.87). A statistically significant gender difference was identified only in the domain of basic diabetes care, with women achieving better results than men (p = 0.012). No statistically significant differences in health literacy were observed according to place of residence, educational level, or age (p > 0.05). Regarding diabetes type, a significant difference was found in the diet and treatment domain (p = 0.042), where participants with type 2 diabetes demonstrated higher levels of knowledge.

Conclusion. Participants demonstrated a satisfactory level of knowledge regarding basic diabetes care, whereas deficiencies were identified in the domain of intermediate care. Gender and type of diabetes were associated with specific aspects of health literacy, while place of residence, educational attainment, and age showed no significant influence. The findings highlight the need for continuous and targeted educational interventions for individuals living with diabetes.