BMC Public Health (Dec 2020)

Different information needs in subgroups of people with diabetes mellitus: a latent class analysis

  • Sandra O. Borgmann,
  • Veronika Gontscharuk,
  • Jana Sommer,
  • Michael Laxy,
  • Nicole Ernstmann,
  • Florian M. Karl,
  • Ina-Maria Rückert-Eheberg,
  • Lars Schwettmann,
  • Karl-Heinz Ladwig,
  • Annette Peters,
  • Andrea Icks,
  • for the KORA Study Group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09968-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background Current evidence suggests that the information needs of people with diabetes mellitus differ across patient groups. With a view to being able to provide individualized information, this study aims to identify (i) the diabetes-related information needs of people with diabetes mellitus; (ii) different subgroups of people with specific information needs; and (iii) associated characteristics of the identified subgroups, such as sociodemographic characteristics, diabetes-related comorbidities, and well-being. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on data from 837 respondents with diabetes mellitus who participated in the population-based KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Augsburg Region) Health Survey 2016 in Southern Germany (KORA GEFU 4 study) (45.6% female, mean age 71.1 years, 92.8% Type 2 diabetes). Diabetes-related information needs were assessed with a questionnaire asking about patients’ information needs concerning 11 diabetes-related topics, e.g. ‘long-term complications’ and ‘treatment/therapy’. Subgroups of people with different information needs and associated characteristics were identified using latent class analysis. Results We identified the following four classes of people with different information needs: ‘high needs on all topics’, ‘low needs on all topics’, ‘moderate needs with a focus on complications and diabetes in everyday life’, and ‘advanced needs with a focus on social and legal aspects and diabetes research’. The classes differed significantly in age, years of education, type of diabetes, diabetes duration, diabetes-related comorbidities, smoking behaviour, diabetes education, current level of information, and time preference. Conclusions Knowledge about different patient subgroups can be useful for tailored information campaigns or physician-patient interactions. Further research is needed to analyse health care needs in these groups, changes in information needs over the course of the disease, and prospective health outcomes.

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