title: Level and determinants of diabetes knowledge in patients with diabetes in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A previous study of beliefs about health and illness in Zimbabweans with diabetes mellitus indicated limited knowledge about diabetes and the body, affecting self-care and health-care seeking behaviour. The aim of this study was to assess the level of diabetes knowledge in Zimbabwean adults with diabetes mellitus, to determine the main gaps in knowledge and identify the socio-demographic and diabetes-related determinants that predict diabetes awareness and self-care practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed using a standardized self-report Diabetes Knowledge Test questionnaire (DKT) of 58 respondents, 32 women and 26 men. Results were analysed with descriptive and analytic statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the respondents scored average knowledge on all three sub-scales: general knowledge, insulin use and total knowledge, with an overall score of 63.1 ± 14, 2%. Major knowledge gaps were in areas related to diet, insulin use and glycaemic control. No significant differences in mean scores were detected in the diabetes knowledge sub-scales when comparisons were made of mean knowledge scores in relation to socio-demographic and diabetes-related characteristics. However, diabetes-related complications were significantly associated with lower total and general diabetes knowledge, and female gender was an independent determinant of low general knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge gaps were evident in areas regarding insulin use, diet and glycaemic control. Low diabetes knowledge was associated with female gender and could be a risk factor for development of diabetes-related complications. Knowledge gaps need to be addressed in diabetes education to prevent development of diabetes-related complications.
authors: School of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Mufunda
authors: Kerstin
authors: K
authors: Wikby
authors: Albin
authors: A
authors: Björn
authors: Katarina
authors: K
authors: Hjelm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D015030:Zimbabwe
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Zimbabwe; descriptive cross-sectional study; determinants; diabetes education; diabetes knowledge; self-report questionnaire
references: BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2010 May 12;10:7
references: 20462425
references: Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2002 May 1;59(9):849-52
references: 12004464
references: Open Nurs J. 2012;6:117-25
references: 22977655
references: J Adv Nurs. 2005 Apr;50(1):47-59
references: 15788065
references: Diabetes Educ. 1999 Sep-Oct;25(5):727-37
references: 10646469
references: Int Nurs Rev. 2008 Dec;55(4):434-41
references: 19146555
references: World Health Forum. 1997;18(3-4):248-60
references: 9478137
references: Ethn Dis. 2006 Spring;16(2):503-9
references: 17682255
references: Diabetes Care. 1998 Dec;21 Suppl 3:C35-8
references: 9850487
references: Curationis. 2007 Jun;30(2):58-65
references: 17703823
references: Nurs Ethics. 2002 Jan;9(1):105-9
references: 16010903
references: Diabetes Metab. 2009 Apr;35(2):121-8
references: 19250850
references: Lancet. 2010 Jun 26;375(9733):2254-66
references: 20609971
references: Diabetologia. 2003 Aug;46(8):1170-8
references: 12856126
references: N Engl J Med. 1993 Sep 30;329(14):977-86
references: 8366922
references: Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2011 Dec;94(3):311-21
references: 22079683
references: Diabet Med. 2001 Aug;18(8):626-33
references: 11553199
references: Diabetes Educ. 2007 Jul-Aug;33(4):599-600, 602-4, 606 passim
references: 17684162
references: J Adv Nurs. 2003 Mar;41(5):424-34
references: 12603567
references: Diabetes Care. 1998 May;21(5):706-10
references: 9589228