title: Factors affecting adult knowledge of diabetes in Narlidere Health District, Turkey.
abstract: The objective was to determine the level of knowledge on diabetes in an adult population in Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, 524 people aged over 30 were selected from the population of Narlidere Health District, Izmir, Turkey. A questionnaire was performed to determine sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge of diabetes. Each item on the questionnaire was given a score with a possible final total of 100 points. Knowledge level was evaluated in the whole group, DM-positive and -negative groups. "DM-positive" group refers to respondents who either have diabetes themselves or whose relatives have it. "DM-negative" group refers to respondents who do not have diabetes themselves and whose relatives do not. In total, 479 people were included in the study (response rate=87.6%). The mean age of the study group was 50.2+/-12.8 and 61% of them were women. Mean diabetes knowledge scores were 62.9+/-17.9 for the study group, 68.3+/-16.1 for the "DM-positive" group and 60.6+/-18.2 for the "DM-negative" group. The "DM-negative" group had a significantly lower mean score than the other two groups. Overall, diabetes knowledge was higher in participants with diabetes or who had a relative with diabetes, who were educated for more than 5 years and who had health insurance. The diabetes knowledge of the study group was not satisfactory. Diabetics and people who have relatives with diabetes had a higher knowledge level than the population without diabetes. Detailed information regarding diabetes should be provided to not only diabetics, but also the population as a whole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, 35340, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey. turkan.gunay@deu.edu.tr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gunay
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulusel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Velipasaoglu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ucku
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozgener
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents