Date of Conferral

5-9-2024

Date of Award

May 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Education and Promotion

Advisor

Cheri Langley

Abstract

The rate of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) among older adults is expected to double within the next decade. Severe complications and health care costs for older adults with T2D are anticipated. In many cases, older adults have a low perceived risk for developing diabetes. Health behaviors such as routine care and improved quality of diet can be opportunities to address perceived risk for developing T2D in older adults. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to investigate whether a relationship exists between routine care visits, quality of diet, and T2D risk perception in adults age 65 years and older in the United States. The predictive value of routine care visits and quality of diet on diabetes risk perception was also examined. The study was guided by the health belief model. Secondary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–2018 (N = 1,500) were analyzed using binary and linear regression. Results indicated no statistically significant relationships between routine care visits and diabetes risk perception or quality of diet and routine care visits. A statistically significant relationship was found between quality of diet and diabetes risk perception. Routine care was not found to be a statistically significant predictor of diabetes risk perception; however, quality of diet was. Findings may increase knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the role health care providers play in T2D risk perception. This may inform the development of tools to improve health outcomes and decrease the negative impact of T2D complications.

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