Limited health literacy and medication knowledge in type 2 diabetes patients from a socially deprived area of Greater Paris (Seine-Saint-Denis)
Abstract
Introduction Health literacy (HL) influences patients' understanding of their disease and treatment and may affect diabetes self-management. We evaluated the prevalence of HL among patients with type 2 diabetes living in a socially deprived area of Greater Paris and examined its association with medication knowledge. Material and methods We conducted a non-interventional cross-sectional study of adults with type 2 diabetes. HL was assessed using the HLS-EU-Q16 questionnaire. Knowledge of medication dosage and medication purpose was assessed for each prescribed medication. Results The 103 participants included comprised 53 men and 50 women; mean age was 54 ± 8 years, mean duration of diabetes was 14.2 ± 8.5 years, and the majority were immigrants (68.9%). Most participants had a low or intermediate educational level (78.6%) and a low socioeconomic status (89.3%; ESeC classification). The mean HL score was 8.95 (range 0–16). Forty-eight participants (46.6%) had inadequate HL, 37 (35.9%) had problematic HL and 18 (17.5%) had adequate HL. Participants with limited HL were less likely to have French as their mother language and more likely to have an immigrant background, a lower educational level, a lower socioeconomic status, require additional information about their diabetes treatment, and receive home nursing support. Mean medication-dosage and medication-purpose knowledge scores were 83% and 67%, respectively. Higher HL score remained independently associated with better medication-purpose knowledge after adjustment for major sociodemographic and clinical factors. Conclusion Limited HL affected more than80% of patients with type 2 diabetes living in a socially deprived area of Greater Paris and remained independently associated with lower medication-purpose knowledge. These findings support routine assessment of HL and HL-sensitive educational interventions, with health mediators (patient navigators) representing a valuable complementary resource.
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BibTeX
@article{koutcha2026limited,
title = {{Limited health literacy and medication knowledge in type 2 diabetes patients from a socially deprived area of Greater Paris (Seine-Saint-Denis)}},
author = {Omar Nouhou Koutcha and Imen Rezgani and Jinene El Fahid and Emmanuel Cosson and Hélène Bihan},
journal = {Diabetes Epidemiology and Management},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.deman.2026.100327},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05769192v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Limited health literacy and medication knowledge in type 2 diabetes patients from a socially deprived area of Greater Paris (Seine-Saint-Denis)
AU - Omar Nouhou Koutcha
AU - Imen Rezgani
AU - Jinene El Fahid
AU - Emmanuel Cosson
AU - Hélène Bihan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - Diabetes Epidemiology and Management
DO - 10.1016/j.deman.2026.100327
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05769192v1
AB - Introduction Health literacy (HL) influences patients' understanding of their disease and treatment and may affect diabetes self-management. We evaluated the prevalence of HL among patients with type 2 diabetes living in a socially deprived area of Greater Paris and examined its association with medication knowledge. Material and methods We conducted a non-interventional cross-sectional study of adults with type 2 diabetes. HL was assessed using the HLS-EU-Q16 questionnaire. Knowledge of medication dosage and medication purpose was assessed for each prescribed medication. Results The 103 participants included comprised 53 men and 50 women; mean age was 54 ± 8 years, mean duration of diabetes was 14.2 ± 8.5 years, and the majority were immigrants (68.9%). Most participants had a low or intermediate educational level (78.6%) and a low socioeconomic status (89.3%; ESeC classification). The mean HL score was 8.95 (range 0–16). Forty-eight participants (46.6%) had inadequate HL, 37 (35.9%) had problematic HL and 18 (17.5%) had adequate HL. Participants with limited HL were less likely to have French as their mother language and more likely to have an immigrant background, a lower educational level, a lower socioeconomic status, require additional information about their diabetes treatment, and receive home nursing support. Mean medication-dosage and medication-purpose knowledge scores were 83% and 67%, respectively. Higher HL score remained independently associated with better medication-purpose knowledge after adjustment for major sociodemographic and clinical factors. Conclusion Limited HL affected more than80% of patients with type 2 diabetes living in a socially deprived area of Greater Paris and remained independently associated with lower medication-purpose knowledge. These findings support routine assessment of HL and HL-sensitive educational interventions, with health mediators (patient navigators) representing a valuable complementary resource.
SN - 2666-9706
ER -