title: A comparative study of the knowledge, beliefs, and practices of diabetic patients cared for at a teaching hospital (free service) and those cared for by private practitioners (paid service).
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the knowledge, beliefs, and practices of diabetics receiving free medical care and those paying for medical care in Tamilnadu, India. A questionnaire was administered to elicit diabetic patients' knowledge regarding diet, exercise, adverse effects, habits, and other matters; their beliefs about diabetes; and their practices regarding diet, medication, and self-monitoring. The results showed a large gap between knowledge and action in both groups and a need for increased efforts toward patient education regarding diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, KAP Viswanatham Government Medical College, Trichy, Tamilnadu, India. avistmv@yahoo.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sivagnanam
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Namasivayam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajasekaran
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thirumalaikolundusubramanian
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ravindranath
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires