Self-reported disease awareness--a questionnaire survey of ulcerative colitis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate patient knowledge about ulcerative colitis and relate this to their socio-demographic characteristics.


METHODS
145 patients with ulcerative colitis were given a two-sectioned awareness questionnaire in a language they understood. The first section, which tested disease awareness, consisted of 16 items. Awareness was classified as very low (< or = 4 correct answers), low (5-8), medium (9-12) and high (13-16). The second section contained 11 questions pertaining to general opinions and views about the disease.


RESULTS
Nine (6.2%) participants had very low level of awareness, 107 (73.8%) low level, 29 (20%) medium, and none high disease awareness. Only disease duration influenced disease awareness significantly. Age, sex, marital status, occupation and education level had no relation to the level of awareness. A majority of patients resorted to use of alternative medicines during their disease course; however, with increasing awareness the use of other types of therapy was reduced. Drug compliance had significant association with disease awareness.


CONCLUSIONS
Our patients with ulcerative colitis had poor disease awareness. Since awareness affected treatment compliance, the study emphasizes the need for better education of the patients and their family about the disease.
Sood
A
A
Department of Medicine and, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab.
Midha
V
V
Sood
N
N
Kaushal
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires