Tapash Roy, Cathy E Lloyd
Cultural and communication difficulties resulting from the lack of a common language or understanding, and high levels of non-literacy are significant problems for diabetes self-management and related research among South Asians with type 2 diabetes. Previous research in the UK has encountered serious difficulties in implementing self-completed questionnaires among this group, but has also demonstrated the usefulness of alternative data collection methods. This study attempted further development of previously tested audio methods of questionnaire administration and data collection, in order to assess their usefulness among individuals with type 2 diabetes living in Bangladesh. A total of 50 individuals, who spoke Sylheti and were attending the diabetes outpatient department of two different hospitals (one urban and one suburban) in Bangladesh, were recruited. All of them had type 2 diabetes. The audio questionnaires were tested and each participant’s opinions with regard to the administration and completion of audio assisted methods was evaluated. Overall, the study participants did not report any difficulties in understanding and completing the audio-recorded questionnaires. However, participants reported finding the self-efficacy questionnaire easier to understand and complete compared to the knowledge questionnaire. This study evaluated the potential and usefulness of administering self-completed audio questionnaires to populations where literacy levels are low, in order to establish levels of knowledge and self efficacy for diabetes self-care. The use of audio methods of data collection was seen as a completely acceptable alternative approach.
