The authors conclude that "The study findings highlight challenges to maximize the benefits of participating in diabetes self-management education, particularly in rural areas." Unfortunately, the abstract does not draw any further conclusions, such as whether access is the primary issue, or whether the content of diabetes self-management programs is perceived as helpful.
The phrase "preventable health behaviors" is an odd choice; strictly speaking, these are behaviors that affect . . . health than can be prevented? Doesn't make sense. That word choice aside, a limitation of the data that is not mentioned is that the survey questions is actually, "Have you done any of the following since (month/year) in response to the outbreak of the new coronavirus?" This prompt is problematic in that it asks respondents whether they have, for example, washed their hands with soap and water or coughed into a tissue of sleep during the reference period "in response to" CoVID-19. Respondents may interpret that in a number of different ways that do not have any bearing on their actual practice. For example, if the person has always done these two behaviors, and did not change them in response to the pandemic, should they answer yes or no?
The authors state that "The findings will help to further inform public health campaigns . . ." about hearing aids, but I am unaware of any public health campaigns regarding hearing aids in the US, where use of hearing aids is entirely a matter of personal choice and access.
So frustrating when journals don't include abstracts. How does one know if they want to go to the trouble of tracking down the full text? Or even paying for it?
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