Knowledge Attitude and Practice regarding Diabetes Mellitus among patients with Type2 Diabetes in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Kerala, India

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major health issues in India. Prevalenceof type 2 or noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus is high in India. Kerala, asouthern state in India has varying prevalence rate of diabetes in its differentgeographical regions. Adequate knowledge, practice and attitude are the threevital parameters of a diabetic patient. Studies are there in literature to evaluatethe knowledge, attitude and practice of diabetes patients in different settingsbut very few studies have investigated the situation in Kerala. Hence the aim ofthis study was to assess the current knowledge, attitude and practice to start aneducational programme.MethodsA descriptive study was conducted in the out patient department of a tertiarycare hospital in South Kerala during the period April 2019 to September 2019.A sample of 220 patients were studied using a pretested questionnaire.Convenience sampling technique was adopted. Study participants were type-2diabetic patients above 18 years and diagnosed for at least six months. Student ttest/one way ANOVA was used to identify the socio-demographic variablesassociated with knowledge, attitude and practice.ResultThe mean(SD) knowledge, attitude and practice scores are 58.16(18.96),77.83(8.77) and 59.75(14.58) respectively. Knowledge and attitude are foundto be associated with educational and occupational status (p<0.05). Familyhistory is associated with attitude (p=0.001). There is statistically significantdifference between the practice scores of males and females (p=0.023). Modeof treatment is associated with knowledge (p=0.02)Keywords: Type 2 diabetic patients, knowledge, attitude, practice.