| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 1 | Page : 8-10 |
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Knowledge of diabetes among diabetic patients in government hospitals of Delhi
Saurav Basu1, Megha Khobragade2, DK Raut3, Suneela Garg1
1 Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India
2 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
3 Family Welfare Training and Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Correspondence Address:
Saurav Basu
Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jncd.jncd_44_16
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Background: Poor patient knowledge of recommended diabetic self-care practices is a major barrier toward attainment of good glycemic control and prevention of diabetic complications.
Materials and Methods: We assessed the knowledge of diabetes self-care practices through a short 7-item pretested questionnaire among diabetes mellitus patients attending special clinics in three government hospitals.
Results: The average diabetes knowledge score attained by the patients was 3.79 ± 1.77 (maximum score = 7). Lifetime treatment requirement for diabetes mellitus, plasma glucose levels for good glycemic control, and symptoms of hypoglycemia were correctly reported by 89%, 74%, and 38.5% of the patients, respectively. Low educational status and female gender were significantly associated with poor knowledge of diabetes (P < 0.05). Low level of knowledge of diabetes was a predictor of poor glycemic control but not medication adherence.
Conclusion: Knowledge of diabetes in patients attending government hospitals in India is low. Future studies should explore low-cost health education interventions feasible in the Indian health-care context for improving patient knowledge of diabetes. |
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