Teshager Aklilu1, Desta Hiko2, Mohammed A Mohammed3, Nezif Hussein Dekema4. 1. 1 School of Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita, Ethiopia. 2. 2 College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Epidemiology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. 3. 3 College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Clinical Sciences, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia. 4. 4 College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy Course Unit, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aims to assess diabetic patients' knowledge of their disease, therapeutic goals, self-management, and its association with goal attainment at a hospital in Ethiopia. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2012 at the diabetic follow-up clinic of Dessie Referral Hospital. Diabetic patients who came for their diabetic follow-up were included consecutively until a calculated sample size of 303 was obtained. Data were collected by face-to-face interview through a pretested structured questionnaire and by medical record review. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of fasting glycemic control. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients (32.7%) had poor knowledge about their disease. The average fasting blood glucose was 226.57 ± 85.86 mg/dL, and only 61 patients (20.1%) achieved the recommended fasting glycemic goal (70-130 mg/dL). Diabetic patients who had poor knowledge were 5.53 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.85, 16.49) more likely to not attain fasting glycemic goal compared to those who had good knowledge. Patients who did not practice self-monitoring of blood glucose were 3.09 times (95% CI: 1.33, 7.21) more likely to not attain fasting glycemic goal than those who practiced. Failure to achieve fasting glycemic goal was 2.43 times (95% CI: 1.15, 5.13) more common among patients who did not regularly exercise as compared to those who did. Patients who did not adhere to their medication were 3.72 times (95% CI: 1.69, 8.20) more likely to fail to achieve fasting glycemic goal compared to those who adhered to their medication. CONCLUSIONS: Fasting glycemic control was below the recommended standard among the study participants. Glycemic control was poor among patients who had poor knowledge, did not practice self-monitoring of blood glucose, did not participate in regular exercise, and were nonadherent to their medication. This study population had poor knowledge about their disease.
PURPOSE: This study aims to assess diabeticpatients' knowledge of their disease, therapeutic goals, self-management, and its association with goal attainment at a hospital in Ethiopia. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2012 at the diabetic follow-up clinic of Dessie Referral Hospital. Diabeticpatients who came for their diabetic follow-up were included consecutively until a calculated sample size of 303 was obtained. Data were collected by face-to-face interview through a pretested structured questionnaire and by medical record review. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of fasting glycemic control. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients (32.7%) had poor knowledge about their disease. The average fasting blood glucose was 226.57 ± 85.86 mg/dL, and only 61 patients (20.1%) achieved the recommended fasting glycemic goal (70-130 mg/dL). Diabeticpatients who had poor knowledge were 5.53 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.85, 16.49) more likely to not attain fasting glycemic goal compared to those who had good knowledge. Patients who did not practice self-monitoring of blood glucose were 3.09 times (95% CI: 1.33, 7.21) more likely to not attain fasting glycemic goal than those who practiced. Failure to achieve fasting glycemic goal was 2.43 times (95% CI: 1.15, 5.13) more common among patients who did not regularly exercise as compared to those who did. Patients who did not adhere to their medication were 3.72 times (95% CI: 1.69, 8.20) more likely to fail to achieve fasting glycemic goal compared to those who adhered to their medication. CONCLUSIONS: Fasting glycemic control was below the recommended standard among the study participants. Glycemic control was poor among patients who had poor knowledge, did not practice self-monitoring of blood glucose, did not participate in regular exercise, and were nonadherent to their medication. This study population had poor knowledge about their disease.
Entities:
Keywords:
Ethiopia; diabetes; health care literacy; nonadherence; patient education; self-management; treatment goals