ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To examine the impact of race, socioeconomic status, and rurality on Type 2 diabetes education among adults in North Carolina. METHODS: Our study utilized data from the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to conduct a retrospective study and secondary data analysis. To account for the multistage survey design of BRFSS, SAS/SUDAAN was used to calculate adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the association between race, socioeconomic status, and rurality and its effects on type 2 diabetes education among adults in North Carolina. MAIN FINDINGS: The majority of the participants (63%) did not have good diabetes education. Non-Whites had higher odds than Whites of good diabetes education (OR=1.56, 95%CI: 1.19, 2.03). Individuals who lived in rural North Carolina had lower odds of having good diabetes education than their urban counterparts, but the results remained insignificant (OR=.88, CI: .67, 1.15). Individuals who were of low socioeconomic status (SES) had poorer diabetes education than individuals who were identified as being high SES, but the results were insignificant (OR=.81, CI: .60, 1.09). PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the study indicate that non-White adults had higher odds than Whites of good type 2 diabetes education in North Carolina. The results of our study could be used for policies and recommendations for health organizations. Policy makers should make diabetes education mandatory for individuals who are diagnosed with this disease. Future studies should have a more accurate measurement of type 2 diabetes education.
