KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF DIABETES PATIENTS: A SURVEY BASED, PROSPECTIVE, OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is metabolic disease associated with major complications like cardiovascular diseases, nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy and other autonomic neuropathy. The Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of diabetic patients in real world is important to assess because the extent of KAP will lead to enhanced outcomes in diabetic control and further prevents the development of disease associated complications.

Objective: To assess the knowledge of diabetes patients regarding disease and medications. Another objective was to assess the attitude and practice of diabetes patients regarding medication adherence, lifestyle modification and monitoring disease.

Methodology: A prospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted in 500 diabetic patients during OPD visit at hospitals. Diabetic patients were enrolled. Demographic data, educational status, medication history and medical history were recorded. KAP data were collected according to the Google form.

Results:

Out of 500 diabetic patients, 347 (69.4 %) were males and 153 (30.6%) were females. The age range of 51 to 60 year had highest number of patients. Majority of diabetes patients had medical history of 2-5 years followed by 5-10 years. More than 73 % of patients showed positive family history of diabetes from father side followed by mother side. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity followed by obesity and others (more than 50 %) of patients. Most common prescribed medicine was metformin. Out of 3 components of KAP, the higher % of patients with highest score were in Attitude category (56 %) followed by knowledge category (5.4 %) and least patients with higher score were in Practice category (2 %).

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that actual practices amongst diabetic patients regarding their medication adherences and disease monitoring is poor. Patients had higher score in attitude but implementing them into practice was difficult.