Racial differences in diabetes self-management and quality of care in Texas.

Aim: To assess racial/ethnic differences in diabetes self-management behaviors and quality of care in Texas.

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed self-management behaviors and quality of care in 1720 adults with diabetes in the 2002-2004 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Multiple logistic regression models were used for assessing the independent association between race/ethnicity, self-management behaviors, and quality of care variables controlling for covariates. SAS (SAS Institute Inc, 2002-2003) was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Eighteen percent of Hispanics, 14% of Blacks, and 10% of Whites reported never performing home glucose testing. Seventeen percent of Hispanics, 11% of Blacks, and 10% of Whites reported never doing home foot exam. Thirty-two percent of Hispanics, 21% of Blacks, and 16% of Whites did not have an A1C test in the prior 12 months. Twelve percent of Hispanics, 10% of Blacks, and 6% of Whites did not have a dilated eye exam in the prior 12 months. Fifty-four percent of Whites, 42% of Blacks, and 40% of Hispanics received a flu shot. Forty-nine percent of Whites, 30% of Blacks, and 26% of Hispanics received a pneumonia shot. In adjusted models, Hispanics were more likely to be sedentary (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.08-2.49) compared to Whites. Blacks did not differ significantly from Whites (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.92-2.34). Hispanics (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.01-2.57) and Blacks (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.10-3.03) were more likely to get an annual foot exam by a provider compared to Whites. Hispanics (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.34-0.85) and Blacks (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35-0.98) were less likely to get a pneumonia shot compared to Whites.

Conclusions: Hispanics have poorer access to care and poorer health status compared to Whites or Blacks. Controlling for socioeconomic and access to care variables eliminated disparities in self-management but did not eliminate disparities in quality of diabetes care.