Level of myths and misconceptions about diabetes mellitus and its treatment among urban diabetics of Haryana: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Myths and misconceptions about diabetes and its treatment are a major obstacle in control and prevention of diabetes which is a disease of national concern.Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out from July 2016 to June 2017 among known diabetics more than 18 years of age. A total of 400 diabetics were chosen using Simple Random Sampling from five urban health posts attached to PGIMS, Rohtak. A predesigned and pretested semi-structured questionnaire was filled by interviewing known diabetics in their vernacular language individually.Results: Among 400 urban participants, 204 (51%) were male and 196 (49%) were female. Mean age of study participants was 58.05±11.63 years. Majority of urban participants 328 (82%) fall in category of moderate level myths and misconceptions.Conclusions: Majority diabetics despite having long standing disease and regular outpatient diabetic care have moderate level myths and misconceptions about disease. Myths and misconceptions were more common in illiterate and participants with diabetes of less than 5 years duration.