Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Education and Promotion

Advisor

Carol Spaulding

Abstract

This exploratory quantitative study used a survey design to address a gap in the literature concerning primary care team perceptions about diabetes care for urban low socioeconomic status seniors with diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic health problem that is often managed in primary care offices, and primary care teams are often the first source of education and support for patients. Standards of management for seniors with diabetes has changed to eliminate tight control of glucose levels, and primary care team members may have differing perceptions about diabetes care depending upon their role in the primary care team and years of experience. The purpose of this study was to assess attitudes and perceptions among a group of primary care team members for urban low socioeconomic status seniors. Using constructs from the health belief model, the study considered two research questions addressing the relationships among care team member perceptions and beliefs about the need for special training, the seriousness of diabetes, the psychosocial impact of diabetes and patient autonomy and the role on the care team and if years of experience significantly related to primary care team members’ perceptions of the value of tight control of glucose. The Diabetes Attitude Scale-3 was used to collect responses from 150 primary care team members. Results showed a correlation between years of experience and value of tight control. No significant relationship was observed between role on care team and perceptions of diabetes. This study contributes to health education and promotion by identifying gaps in diabetes knowledge in primary care teams and has the potential to advance positive social change by providing health educators with information to improve diabetes education programs.

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