Factors affecting adult knowledge of diabetes in Narlidere Health District, Turkey

Abstract

The objective was to determine the level of knowledge on diabetes in an adult population in Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, 524 people aged over 30 were selected from the population of Narlidere Health District, Izmir, Turkey. A questionnaire was performed to determine sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge of diabetes. Each item on the questionnaire was given a score with a possible final total of 100 points. Knowledge level was evaluated in the whole group, DM-positive and -negative groups. "DM-positive" group refers to respondents who either have diabetes themselves or whose relatives have it. "DM-negative" group refers to respondents who do not have diabetes themselves and whose relatives do not. In total, 479 people were included in the study (response rate=87.6%). The mean age of the study group was 50.2+/-12.8 and 61% of them were women. Mean diabetes knowledge scores were 62.9+/-17.9 for the study group, 68.3+/-16.1 for the "DM-positive" group and 60.6+/-18.2 for the "DM-negative" group. The "DM-negative" group had a significantly lower mean score than the other two groups. Overall, diabetes knowledge was higher in participants with diabetes or who had a relative with diabetes, who were educated for more than 5 years and who had health insurance. The diabetes knowledge of the study group was not satisfactory. Diabetics and people who have relatives with diabetes had a higher knowledge level than the population without diabetes. Detailed information regarding diabetes should be provided to not only diabetics, but also the population as a whole.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Diabetes Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…However there was not any significant association between KAP score and glycemic control in this study. This result was similar the result of study among Malaysian diabetes patients [21]. Most patients in our study reported checking of blood sugar only by doctor in every three months visit; this low frequency of blood sugar self-monitoring may have effect on blood sugar control.…”

“…Poor knowledge regarding diabetes has been reported in several studies from the developing countries [19,20,21]. While, another study in England as a developed country, also stated poor knowledge of diabetes among ethnic groups [22].…”

Knowledge of gestational diabetes among a multi-ethnic cohort in Australia

“…Baradaran et al (2006) who examined knowledge of diabetes among a multiethnic sample in Glasgow, Scotland, also found that Indian and Pakistani subjects had less knowledge about diabetes, regarded the disease less seriously and had a lesser comprehension of the relationship between control and complications than the Caucasian population. These trends of lower levels of knowledge and lesser appreciation of the seriousness of diabetes are replicated in other studies among non-Caucasians populations (Baradaran et al 2006;Chilton et al 2006;Gunay et al 2006;Pardhan & Mahomed 2004). To return to Zambrana's point of low education, low literacy skills and limited proficiency in English as exerting a particularly potent negative effect on health literacy, it is interesting to look at the opposite argument and consider if higher education modifies the effect attributed to ethnicity.…”

Correlation of Disease Knowledge with Adherence to Drug Therapy, Blood Sugar Levels and Complications Associated with Disease among Type 2 Diabetic Patients

“…A low level of diabetes knowledge among patients with diabetes has been identified in other countries [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Previous studies had consistently reported that improving patients' knowledge might help attain the goals of diabetes management [30].…”