Role of health education in the management of diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the level of awareness of diabetic patients about their disease; and to see the association between different levels of this knowledge and metabolic control and frequency of complications in patients with diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
An observational analytical study.


METHODS
The study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from May 20, 2000 to November 20, 2000.


METHODS
A total number of 100 patients, 35 males and 65 females, 28 with type-1 and 72 with type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM) were included in the study. The ages of the patients ranged from 21 to 80 years with mean age of 48.75 years + 12.43 standard deviations (SD). A questionnaire was designed comprising of 24 different aspects of DM. The patients were grouped into three categories on the basis of their awareness and level of knowledge about their disease. Statistical analysis of the results was made by applying student s t test on mean scores of the knowledge of diabetes and the glycemic control, as reflected by the mean HbA1c, at significance at p<0.05, whereas Chi-square test was applied at frequency of complications.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight percent of all the patients were in category 1 with inadequate knowledge (mean score 3.7) who had poorly controlled DM with mean HbA1c of 9.94% and higher rates of complications (89.6%) whereas 20% of the patients were in category 3, having adequate knowledge (mean score of 19.9), had good control of their disease (mean HbA1c=7.88%) and lower frequency (40%) of complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The awareness about the disease in majority of diabetic patients, was not adequate in this study. An adequate knowledge of the disease through health education is associated with good metabolic control and prevention of complications associated with diabetes mellitus and its therapy.
Department of Medicine, Postgraduate Medical Institute/Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. rahmanafridi@hotmail.com
Mohammad Abdur Rahman
MA
Afridi
Mohammad Nawaz
MN
Khan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic