Knowledge, beliefs, and economic barriers to healthcare: a survey of diabetic patients in an Arab-Israeli town.

Arab Israelis experience many financial and cultural barriers to effective diabetes control. This descriptive study was conducted in an Arab-Muslim town to assess the level of knowledge, beliefs, and concerns about diabetes care, and to what extent it is affected by financial constraints. More than a third of respondents report not receiving any counseling on issues such as foot care or the effects of smoking on diabetes, misconceptions attributable to social norms are common, and more than a third forgo taking medications because of financial reasons. There is a need for interventions focused on overcoming these barriers to improve diabetes treatment and self-care in this population.