Latent classes of learners in people with type 2 diabetes, stratified by educational status: A cross-sectional study

Research suggests that people with type 2 diabetes (PWT2D) exhibit different approaches to learning about disease-management. This study's aims to identify distinct learner groups among PWT2D and stratify them by educational status (ES).

Cross-sectional data from 227 PWT2D, collected through 46 Likert-scale questions on learning behaviors, preferences, and attitudes, were analyzed using latent class analysis, to identify learner groups. Participants were recruited via healthcare practices in central Germany and a countrywide online survey. Group membership was displayed according to low, medium, and high ES, defined by years of schooling.

Four learner groups were identified: casual, versatile, insecure, and theorist learners. Insecure learners accounted for almost half of all respondents in the low ES group (46 %), casual learners were most prevalent among PWT2D with a medium (27 %), versatile (34 %) and theorist (29 %) learners among those with a high ES.

This study sheds light on learner groups among PWT2D, which differ by ES, suggesting social disparities in diabetes care. Further research is needed to validate these findings.

Understanding individual learning preferences and motivations is crucial for developing effective diabetes self-management trainings, which may involve providing additional background material for theorists and practical applications for insecure learners.