title: An Investigation of Diabetes Knowledge Levels Between Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Galway, Ireland and New York, USA: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: Management of diabetes mellitus (DM) involves podiatrists as the primary practitioners engaged in prevention and treatment of lower limb pathology. Patients must first possess adequate knowledge to engage in effective self-management. A knowledge assessment of a DM cohort has never before been conducted in Ireland. The primary research objective was to determine the existence of gaps in specific areas of DM-related knowledge between type 2 DM (T2DM) patients in Galway (GW) and New York (NY). A cross-sectional study compared DM-related knowledge levels between 2 cohorts over a 10-week period. Participants were recently (<3 years) diagnosed with T2DM, were based in general podiatry clinics in GW or NY and had no current or previous diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) or other DM-related foot pathology. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. A purpose-designed 28-item closed questionnaire was completed by both cohorts to assess knowledge differences. Fifty-two subjects were recruited (GW, n = 32; NY, n = 20). The mean age was 61 ± 10 years; 56% were male. Significant differences were found between cohorts relating to individual questions; specifically regarding knowledge of glycemic control (P = .002) and frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose (P = .003). Inappropriate foot care practices across both cohorts were highlighted. No significant intercohort differences in particular survey sections were identified. The scores in the systemic and podiatric sections of the questionnaire highlight patterns of common health misconceptions and some highly inappropriate foot care practices respectively across the entire sample. In particular, the dearth of patient awareness regarding uncontrolled blood glucose and its relationship to DFU development, amputation, and associated morbidity is shown to be an area of concern; this must be addressed a priori.
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland a.mahon1@nuigalway.ie.
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.affiliation: Forest Hills Hospital, Queens, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Garrett D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Gazes
authors.affiliation: New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chusid
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MacGilchrist
mesh_terms: D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: diabetes mellitus; diabetic foot ulceration; education; patient