Self-management knowledge, attitudes and practices among persons with type 2 diabetes in Ghana.

Background:  Diabetes is one of the major non-communicable diseases. Diabetes self-management has been identified as a key strategy to reduce complications and to improve health outcomes.

Aim:  This study aimed to investigate the diabetes self-management knowledge, attitude and practices among people with type-2 diabetes in Ghana.

Setting:  Two clinics for diabetes patients in the Ho municipality of Ghana were selected to conduct the study.

Methods:  An outpatient cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 57-item researcher-administered questionnaire based on the Information, Motivation, Behaviours Model adopted for Diabetes. A total of 321 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly selected from the two outpatient clinics for diabetes in Ho, Ghana. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression modules were conducted to determine the predictors of self-management practices. Significance was set at p  0.05.

Results:  The average score for knowledge was 11.37/24 ± 3.40 or 47%, indicating poor levels of diabetes self-management knowledge. Moderately positive attitudes were found (2.83/5 ± 1.57) [95% CI -1.86 to -3.80] with poor self-management practices with a median of 3.00 per week (maximum 5.20, minimum 0.60 per week). Knowledge explained 20% of variation in self-management practice.

Conclusion:  The findings from this study show an overall deficit in knowledge of diabetes with related low self-management practice. This suggests the need for robust self-management education programmes to improve access to diabetes self-management-related information.Contribution: This study highlights the important knowledge of diabetes in self-management.