Knowledge of diabetes among type 2 diabetes patients attending a primary health care clinic in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Patients' knowledge about their illness is considered important in controlling diabetes and preventing complications. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending the diabetes clinic of a primary care level hospital in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. During a 1-month period in 2009 all consenting patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who had been attending the clinic for more than 3 months were included in the study. Using an interviewer administered, structured questionnaire 150 patients (135 females, 15 males) answered 25 questions about diabetes knowledge (scored ×4 to give score range 0-100). A majority of patients (70.0%) had a good score (> 65) on the knowledge test but critical gaps in knowledge were revealed, especially regarding knowledge about symptoms of poor control and importance of regular follow-up. Although patients with longer duration of diabetes had higher mean knowledge scores, they also had higher fasting blood glucose levels. Education programmes are needed to address critical gaps in patients' knowledge. Connaissances sur le diabète chez des patients diabétiques de type 2 consultant dans un centre de soins de santé primaires au Ski Lanka RÉSUMÉ On considère que les connaissances des patients sur leur maladie sont importantes pour le contrôle du diabète et la prévention des complications. Une étude descriptive transversale a été menée auprès de patients consultant dans le service de prise en charge du diabète de l'hôpital de soins de santé primaires de Moratuwa (Sri Lanka). Pendant un mois en 2009, tous les patients consentants, à qui l'on avait diagnostiqué un diabète de type 2, et qui consultaient dans ce service depuis plus de trois mois, ont été recrutés dans l'étude. À l'aide d'un questionnaire structuré administré par un professionnel, 150 patients (135 femmes, 15 hommes) ont répondu à 25 questions sur leurs connaissances en matière de diabète (les scores ont été multipliés par quatre pour obtenir une échelle allant de 0 à 100). La majorité des patients (70,0 %) ont obtenu un bon score (> 65) au questionnaire, mais des lacunes majeures ont été constatées au niveau des connaissances, en particulier sur les symptômes d'un mauvais contrôle et l'importance d'un suivi régulier. Si les patients diabétiques depuis plus longtemps ont obtenu en moyenne de meilleurs scores de connaissances, leur glycémie à jeun était aussi plus élevée. Des programmes éducatifs sont requis pour s'attaquer aux importantes lacunes des patients au niveau des connaissances dans ce domaine.‫املتوسط‬ ‫لرشق‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫املجلة‬ ‫عرش‬ ‫التاسع‬ ‫املجلد‬ ‫السابع‬ ‫العدد‬ 645

Knowledge of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus about their condition - a descriptive analysis

“…A previous study, conducted in Pakistan, to assess the knowledge of diabetes among patients with diabetes revealed that only 13.6% of the participants had a good knowledge about diabetes (14). A similar study conducted at Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, showed that more than 90% of the participants were unable to recognize hyperglycaemic and hypoglycaemic symptoms, 42% of the participants didn't know the target blood glucose level and more than 50% of the participants didn't believe annual follow-ups were needed to manage their condition (15). 90% of the participants in this study were female and they lived in a specific geographical area and generalizability of the study findings was debatable.…”

“…Previous studies done in Sri Lanka (15), India (18) and Singapore (17) have demonstrated that 44%, 62% and 25% of the patients in respective countries believed that diabetes is curable 8 . This study also demonstrated a similar percentage of patients (47%) who believes that diabetes can be cured and take treatment hoping for a cure.…”

How much do Tamil patients with diabetes know about complications of diabetes? a descriptive study

“…Although the majority of patients are aware of the chronic complications of diabetes, a reasonable percentage of patients were unaware of the symptoms of hypoglycaemia (64%). The previous studies done in Sri Lanka also have demonstrated that the majority of (90%) patients were unaware of the symptoms of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia and only 20.7% patients were knowledgeable about symptoms of hypoglycemia (12,17,22,29). A similar study done in India has also shown that only about 51.5% of the patients were aware of the symptoms of hypoglyaemia (28).…”

“…According to a statement by the American association of clinical Endocrinologists, the cause of compli--cations in both acute and chronic DM is either a lack of understanding with regard to the long and short-term regulation of blood glucose or the refusal of the patients to control the blood glucose levels (21). A study done by Perera et al in 2013 has demonstrated that 90.0% of the study participants knew that DM produces chronic complications (22). In contrast, the study by Mohan et al (2005) in Chennai (India) found that only 40.6% of self-reported diabetic subjects knew that DM could cause complications (23).…”

New Pharmacist Role in Diabetes Education in Sri Lanka: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Randomized Step-Up Study

“…Recent evidence of studies from Perera, et al and Jayawardena, et al reported the limited patients' knowledge on the management of their disease in Sri Lanka which underlines an urgent need of setting an effective culturally sensitive and appropriate education program on lifestyle modification. However, 'Chronic care models have extensively practiced for self-management programs, but to our knowledge, no patient education studies based on 'PITS model' (Pathophysiology, Indications, Treatment and Specifics) has been practiced in Sri Lanka [10][11][12]. The PITS model is a logical, organised universal teaching model that presents information which enhances the receiver's ability to recall information [13,14].…”