title: Self-Reported Knowledge of Diabetes among High School Students in Al-Amerat and Quriyat, Muscat Governate, Oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is emerging as one of the world's greatest health problems, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing at an alarming rate and globally reaching epidemic proportions. With this increasing incidence, emphasis is now being placed on implementing primary prevention, early detection, and educational prevention programmes. This study was undertaken to estimate the level of knowledge of T2DM among high school students and to explore the factors influencing the knowledge of T2DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in four secondary schools in two wilayats (districts) of Muscat governate, Oman, namely Al-Amerat and Quriyat. The study was conducted using a validated English questionnaire covering all aspects of T2DM in one-to-one interviews. A scoring system was used to assess the students' knowledge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 541 students enrolled in the study (45% male and 55% female), only 24% achieved a score of over 10 out of 20. The key areas of poor knowledge were wrong perceptions about diabetic meals (73%), and the possibility of a cure for diabetes (63%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall poor knowledge levels about T2DM were found among school students. National efforts and school-health-based interventions are highly recommended to increase awareness about diabetes among this age group.
authors: Directorate of Health Services Amerat, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors: Badriya
authors: B
authors: Al-Mahrooqi
authors: Rahma
authors: R
authors: Al-Hadhrami
authors: Amal
authors: A
authors: Al-Amri
authors: Saif
authors: S
authors: Al-Tamimi
authors: Asma
authors: A
authors: Al-Shidhani
authors: Hadia
authors: H
authors: Al-Lawati
authors: Aida
authors: A
authors: Al-Ismaili
authors: Khawla
authors: K
authors: Al-Hooti
authors: Thamra
authors: T
authors: Al-Ghafri
keywords: Adolescence; Complications; Diabetes; Knowledge; Oman; Risk Factors; Schools; Self Report
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