Diabetes Awareness - Knowledge Attitude and Practice of Diabetic Patients in a Tertiary Care Setting

Abstract

Objective: To assess the awareness of people regarding diabetes and their practices about the
disease so that a comprehensive education program may be designed to give awareness to the
diabetic patients and contribute towards reduction of the complications of the disease.
Material & Methods: A cross sectional study which included 714 patients with known type 2
diabetes conducted in Shalimar Hospital, Lahore. The technique used was non probability
purposive sampling. A simple questionnaire was distributed in the diabetic clinic and a diabetic
nurse filled the questionnaire by asking questions from the patients.
Results: Mean age was 50.5+24.11 years. There were 25.5% males and 74.5% females. Alarge
number (37.2%) were uneducated and only 16.1 % had education above grade 10. Regarding the
economic status, 62.9% fell into grade 1 economic status and 12.9% in grade 4. In the study
64.1% of the patients thought that the disease had no cure. 84.8% of the patients were of the
opinion that the disease and the medication would decrease with time. Only 35% patients knew
that it may affect different organs of the body irreversibly. 69% of the patients did not walk at all.
Conclusion: In a tertiary setup in Lahore, one of the most prosperous cities of Pakistan, the
awareness level is quite poor even amongst the people who are suffering from diabetes. The
overall education level in our patient group is also very poor. If the awareness level of diabetic
patients remains as it is today, many new faces of diabetic complications will unveil each year.
There is a need for an effective disease management program in the country.