Exercise behavior and knowledge among the DM type II patients.
OBJECTIVE
To study the exercise behavior and knowledge about physical exercise among diabetic patients. The authors explored the correlation between the exercise behavior and knowledge of physical exercise.


METHODS
DM type II patients aged more than 18 years, who attended the DM clinic, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok between April and August 2007 were randomly interviewed by using questionnaires while they were waiting to see their doctors.


RESULTS
One hundred and ninety six patients were interviewed. They were 62 males and 134 females with an average age of 60.5 years. Most of them exercised regularly at least three times a week (65.8%). Most of them exercised by walking (67%). They liked to exercise in their houses (48.7%), and in the morning (41.8%). Health care providers provided knowledge about exercise (58.2%). The benefit of exercise known the least was that it could increase endorphin release (61.2%). The aerobic exercise principle known the least was the proper frequency of exercise (50.5%). In addition, the exercise principle in DM known the least was that the DM patients should consult their doctors before starting to exercise (49%).


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the DM patients exercised regularly, but some had insufficient knowledge. The researchers will take the results to provide the adequate knowledge to the DM patients in the future.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok Thailand. drnavaporn@gmail.com
Navaporn
N
Chadchavalpanichaya
Nualpis
N
Intaratep
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose