Assessing the knowledge about Diabetes Mellitus among patients attending the Diabetic clinic at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin dysfunction, leading to hyperglycemia. Its complications arise from poor management, emphasizing the need for patient education. Assessing patient knowledge aids in tailored interventions, improving self-care, reducing complications, and enhancing overall diabetes management. Patients’ knowledge about diabetes mellitus including causes, symptoms, complications and management was assessed. Our general objective is to assess the knowledge of diabetes among patients above 35 years old attending the diabetic clinic at THB. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending the diabetes clinic of the university medical clinics of Teaching Hospital Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. From February to March 2024 all consenting patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who had fulfilled our inclusion criteria were included in the study. Using an interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire 185 patients (Female 107, Male 78) answered 56 questions about diabetes knowledge which was converted to 100% to give a score range of 0–100). Data analysis was performed using IBM statistical package for social science version 26. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used. A majority of patients (84.32%) had a good score (≥65%) on the knowledge test. Still, critical gaps in knowledge were revealed, especially regarding knowledge about hypoglycemic symptoms, complications and management of diabetes mellitus. No notable disparity existed between mean knowledge scores and diabetes duration. Patients with 5 to 10 years of diabetes (77.88% ±SD13.71) showed similar knowledge levels to those with over 10 years (76.03% ±SD8.6). Educational interventions are crucial to fill these knowledge gaps. Among our study participants, awareness of complications varied, with a high recognition of symptoms but a lower understanding of hypoglycemic management. Overall, participants showed good knowledge of diabetes causes and risk factors, suggesting a need for targeted education on symptom recognition and hypoglycemic management to enhance diabetes care. Based on our research, we recommend the implementation of structured education programs for individuals with diabetes mellitus, as well as the integration of collaborative care models that address both diabetes and hypertension management. Additionally, there is a need for increased access to affordable medications and regular monitoring of glycemic control for better disease management.