TY - JOUR
T1 - Study protocol for exploring diabetes numeracy and health literacy across Europe (EDUCATE)
T2 - A multicentre cross-sectional study
AU - den Brok, Elisabeth J.
AU - Hornborg-Svensson, Cecilie
AU - Dimitropoulou, Nefeli M.
AU - Broeng-Mikkelgaard, Sofie
AU - Olsen, Mikkel T.
AU - Rahman, Lubnaa Abdur
AU - Papathanail, Ioannis
AU - Wiede, Antje
AU - Peters, Juliane
AU - Mertens, Peter R.
AU - Zikou, Eva
AU - Karamanakos, Georgios
AU - Athanasopoulos, Stavros
AU - Mitrakou, Asimina
AU - Makrilakis, Konstantinos
AU - van Kuijk, Sander M. J.
AU - Mougiakakou, Stavroula
AU - van Greevenbroek, Marleen M. J.
AU - Pedersen-Bjergaard, Ulrik
AU - de Galan, Bastiaan E.
AU - Dingena, Cassy F.
AU - Melissa Consortium
PY - 2025/9/1
Y1 - 2025/9/1
N2 - Aims: Effective diabetes self-management increasingly depends on the interplay between health literacy, numeracy and digital health literacy, given the growing integration of advanced digital tools into diabetes care routines. Little is known about the current state of these skills among people with insulin-treated diabetes. Therefore, this study aims to assess (digital) health literacy and numeracy in people with diabetes on intensive insulin therapy and to explore their associations with glycaemic control, health behaviours, clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes. Methods: The Exploring Diabetes Health Literacy and Numeracy across Europe (EDUCATE) study is a multicentre cross-sectional study aiming to recruit 209 adults with type 1, type 2, or pancreatogenic diabetes on intensive insulin therapy in four European outpatient clinics. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires, record their dietary patterns, and wear both a physical activity tracker and a blinded continuous glucose monitor for two weeks. The primary outcome is health literacy, assessed using the validated Health Literacy questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include numeracy, digital health literacy, glycaemic outcomes, health behaviour (e.g., diet and physical activity), and patient-reported-outcomes (e.g., quality-of-life and diabetes distress). Results: Findings will be diseminated through peer-reviewed scientific journals, and academic conferences or media outlets to inform the wider public. Conclusion: EDUCATE will assess digital health literacy and numeracy in people with diabetes on intensive insulin regimens across four European countries. A deeper understanding of the current landscape of health literacy and its association with glycaemic outcomes may support the development of targeted interventions. These interventions are aimed at empowering people with diabetes and reducing socio-economic and cultural health disparities.
AB - Aims: Effective diabetes self-management increasingly depends on the interplay between health literacy, numeracy and digital health literacy, given the growing integration of advanced digital tools into diabetes care routines. Little is known about the current state of these skills among people with insulin-treated diabetes. Therefore, this study aims to assess (digital) health literacy and numeracy in people with diabetes on intensive insulin therapy and to explore their associations with glycaemic control, health behaviours, clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes. Methods: The Exploring Diabetes Health Literacy and Numeracy across Europe (EDUCATE) study is a multicentre cross-sectional study aiming to recruit 209 adults with type 1, type 2, or pancreatogenic diabetes on intensive insulin therapy in four European outpatient clinics. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires, record their dietary patterns, and wear both a physical activity tracker and a blinded continuous glucose monitor for two weeks. The primary outcome is health literacy, assessed using the validated Health Literacy questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include numeracy, digital health literacy, glycaemic outcomes, health behaviour (e.g., diet and physical activity), and patient-reported-outcomes (e.g., quality-of-life and diabetes distress). Results: Findings will be diseminated through peer-reviewed scientific journals, and academic conferences or media outlets to inform the wider public. Conclusion: EDUCATE will assess digital health literacy and numeracy in people with diabetes on intensive insulin regimens across four European countries. A deeper understanding of the current landscape of health literacy and its association with glycaemic outcomes may support the development of targeted interventions. These interventions are aimed at empowering people with diabetes and reducing socio-economic and cultural health disparities.
KW - diabetes mellitus
KW - (digital) health literacy
KW - glycaemic control
KW - lifestyle
KW - numeracy
KW - patient-reported outcomes
KW - self-management
KW - HYPOGLYCEMIA
KW - FREQUENCY
KW - ADULTS
KW - QUESTIONNAIRE
KW - AWARENESS
U2 - 10.1111/dme.70140
DO - 10.1111/dme.70140
M3 - Article
SN - 0742-3071
JO - Diabetic Medicine
JF - Diabetic Medicine
M1 - 70140
ER -