The Mediating Role of Health Literacy in the Relationship between Care Burden and Health Perception among Caregivers of Children with Type ۱ Diabetes: A Comparison Based on Continuous Glucose Monitoring System Usage

Background and Objective: Parents who assume the responsibility of caregiving for children diagnosed with Type ۱ Diabetes Mellitus play a crucial role in effective diabetes management. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of health literacy in the relationship between health perception and caregiving burden among caregivers of children with Type ۱ Diabetes Mellitus, separately for those using continuous glucose monitoring and those using self-monitoring of blood glucose.Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with ۲۸۹ caregivers of children with Type ۱ Diabetes Mellitus. The data were collected online between October ۲۰۲۴ and January ۲۰۲۵ using a sociodemographic data collection form, the Health Perception Scale, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, and the Short Form of the Health Literacy Scale. The data analysis was conducted using the SPSS ۲۷ software and included descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), Pearson correlation, regression analysis, and mediation testing. A significance level of p<۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant.Results: It was found that children using self-monitoring of blood glucose had higher HbA۱c levels compared to those using continuous glucose monitoring. The findings indicated that health literacy played a mediating role in the relationship between caregiver burden and health perception among caregivers of children using continuous glucose monitoring, whereas no such effect was observed among caregivers of children using self-monitoring of blood glucose. Additionally, caregivers of children using continuous glucose monitoring reported lower caregiver burden and better glycemic control.Conclusions: Health literacy was identified as a significant factor associated with reduced caregiver burden in the continuous glucose monitoring group. Interventions aimed at enhancing health literacy, particularly among caregivers of children using self-monitoring of blood glucose, may help promote more favorable outcomes in diabetes care.

کلیدواژه ها:

Caregivers ، Caregiver burden ، Diabetes Mellitus ، Health Literacy ، Type ۱