Knowledge Assessment of Diabetic Patients: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Two hundred and sixteen diabetic patients were interviewed using a purpose made questionnaire ro assess their knowledge on diabetes mellitus (DM. The mean age of the subjects was 47.06 * 13.28 years. and they were Ahosn to have diabetes for 5.74 g 4.68 years. Family history f DM was found in 44.44% and 87.50% were members of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (DAB). A considerable number of the patients interviewed were quire unaware about the symptoms of DM (20.37%). prohibited foods (5.55%). restricted foods (13.88%). non-restricted foods (53.70%). ideal body weight (59.72%), relationship benceen body weight and diabetes control (56.01%), importance of exercise in diabetes control (4.16%) and Itypoglwaenda (82.87%). They were equally unaware of the fact that diabetes can affect eve 137.68%). kidney (51.85%). bean (64.81%), brain (93.51%)and skin (leg ulcer) (59.25%1. About 81.94% did not know lion' to control DM. Out of 216 cases. 72.22% attended basic information session in large group once during their enrollment in DAB. The difference in knowledge between the groups who attended the ...ion and those vita did not was found to be insignificant with the exception of knowledge about non-restricted food and kidney and heart complications (p..0511. p=.036 and p=.010 respectively). A sub-group of 106 (49.07%) cases were on insulin: among then, 2830% lacked the skill to inject insulin and 44.33% did not have the knowledge about when and how to change doses of insulin. Among the study group. SMBG was very poor (7.87%). This study found that the blo•ledge attained by the diabetic patients regarding their disease is not satisfactory and needs Pother improwntent by more effective methods of continuous education.