title: Attitude towards diabetes and social and family support among type 2 diabetes patients attending a tertiary-care hospital in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bangladesh has been suffering from an epidemiological transition from infectious and maternal diseases to non-communicable lifestyle-related diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers etc. The burden of diabetes has been increasing rapidly due to high incidence as well as poor glycemic control leading to various macro and micro-vascular complications. In this study, we aim to assess the attitude towards diabetes and social and family support among the Bangladeshi type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study among 144 patients with T2DM at the medicine outpatient department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in Dhaka, Bangladesh between 1 July and 31 July 2014. Data collection was done by interviewing patients using structured questionnaire. Understanding diabetes, education/advice received, attitude towards diabetes, family and friend support were measured by validated scales adapted from diabetes care profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study includes a total of 144 patients (101 males and 43 females) with type 2 diabetes aged between 20 and 84 years. 87 % of the patients had inadequate blood glucose control (fasting blood sugar >7.2 mmol/L or >130 mg/dl). Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean scores of various attitude scales (i.e. positive, negative, care ability and self-care adherence scale) among patients with adequate and inadequate blood glucose control (p < 0.05). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between these three categories of social and family support. Self-satisfaction with diabetic care was significantly associated with adequate blood glucose control (p = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive attitude towards diabetes management and support from friends and family were associated with adequate diabetes management. Appropriate public health interventions should be designed to educate and motivate the family members to offer greater support to the diabetes patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh. dr.shajedur@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Md Shajedur Rahman
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shawon
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Fariha Binte
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Gourab
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adhikary
authors.affiliation: Dhaka Medical College, Secretariate Rd, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Rajat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Das Gupta
authors.affiliation: Dhaka Medical College, Secretariate Rd, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammad Rashidul
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hashan
authors.affiliation: Dhaka Medical College, Secretariate Rd, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Fazla
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rabbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: G U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Ahsan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001459:Bangladesh; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: Attitude; Bangladesh; Fasting blood sugar; Glycemic status; Social and family support; Type 2 diabetes mellitus