KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS

Authors

  • Naheed Gul

Abstract

Background: Education is the cornerstone of diabetes care. Because of lack of awareness, mostpatients suffer from diabetes complications. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge,attitudes and practices among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This descriptive study includedone hundred type 2 diabetics. Patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The mean ageof the patients was 50±5 years with the male to female ratio being 1:3. The data was collected usingconvenience sampling technique and analyzed using statistical package Epi Info 6.0. The patients,knowledge about the disease, their attitudes and practices were the main outcome measures. Results: Inour study, patients’ awareness about diabetes was low. The mean of correct answers for glycemiccontrol, risk factors and complications was 33.5%, 69% and 39% respectively. Sixty-one percent of thepatients regularly checked blood sugar but only few knew target blood glucose values. Only one sixthof all the patients could correctly answer question regarding nutrition. 92% recognized blood pressureas a risk factor while the correct answers for hyperlipedimia, cigarette smoking, sedentary life style andbody weight were 42%, 70%, 76% and 66% respectively. Awareness about eye and renalcomplications was also quite low. Doctors were the main source of information available to the testpopulation. Conclusions: The knowledge, attitude and practice scores were low in most areas ofdiabetes care emphasising the need for additional educational efforts.Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, knowledge, attitudes, practices

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Published

2010-09-01

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 3 (2010): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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