Educational preferences in individuals with cardiometabolic disease differs with age, ethnicity and educational status

Objectives: To evaluate how sociodemographic factors influence educational modality preferences in people with cardiometabolic disease. 

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed in people with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, who completed a questionnaire to denote their previous experience and ranked preferences for different educational modalities. 

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 3751 people, of whom 59% were men, median (interquartile range) age was 68 (59−76) years, and 78% were White European. In total, 73% had diabetes, 35% had heart disease, and 10% had history of stroke; the majority (83.4%) had one of these conditions. Overall preference was for one-to-one education (77% ranked first choice), and telephone education ranked the lowest. People tended to prefer modalities they had previously experienced. 

Conclusions: We highlight the importance of considering factors that could influence selection of educational modalities including age, ethnicity, gender and educational level. We anticipate this approach will aid in the design, delivery and tailoring of educational programmes that are accessible to the diverse cohort of people living with chronic diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. 

Practice Implications: Given the influence of multiple demographic factors and previous experiences on expressed preferences, providers should support individuals to make informed decisions about educational interventions to maximise engagement.