Health literacy and diabetes information preferences among Chinese immigrants: An Australian cross-sectional study

Aim: Explore Australian-Chinese immigrants' health literacy and preferences and engagement with translated diabetes self-management patient education materials. Design: The cross-sectional survey was conducted with Australian-Chinese immigrants at risk or with type 2 diabetes recruited via health services, and diabetes and community organisations. Methods: The survey had three parts: (1) diabetes screening; (2) sociodemographic information, clinical characteristics and preferences for translated materials; and (3) Functional, Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (FCCHL) Scale. Results: Of 381 participants, 54.3% reported diabetes (n = 207), the remainder pre-diabetes or at risk (45.7%, n = 174); 34.1% male; mean age 64.1 years. Average total health literacy (FCCHL) scores were 35.3/56 (SD = 8.7). Participants with greater English proficiency reported higher health literacy (p < 0.001). This pattern also existed for functional (p < 0.001), communicative (p = 0.007) and critical (p = 0.041) health literacy subdomains. Health literacy scores did not differ significantly based on years of residence in Australia (all p > 0.05). Although the majority of participants (75.6%, N = 288) were willing to receive translated diabetes information, only a small proportion (19.7%, N = 75) reporting receiving such materials. Conclusion: There is a clear need for co-designed diabetes patient education materials that meet the needs and adequately reach Australian-Chinese immigrants. In particular, these materials must support people with limited English-language proficiency.