title: Improving Diabetes Knowledge and Self-Care Practices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study sought to identify the nature and extent of diabetes-related knowledge and self-care practices in people living with type 2 diabetes who attend primary-care clinics and to determine whether a correlation between the two exists.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a nonexperimental prospective study, the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire and the Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities were used to assess knowledge and self-management in 50 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean diabetes knowledge score was 14.40 out of a total of 24 and the mean self-care activities score was 2.89 out of a total of 7, indicating a deficit in a number of key areas in the management of diabetes. There was no statistically significant correlation between diabetes knowledge score and diabetes self-care activities (r = 0.190, P = 0.187). On analysis of the individual subscales, a significant relationship resulted between diabetes knowledge score and diet (r = 0.324, P = 0.022) but physical activity (r = 0.179, P = 0.214), blood sugar testing (r = 0.231, P = 0.107) and footcare (r = 0.189, P = 0.189) gave no significant results. On further analysis, education level was significantly correlated to diabetes knowledge score (r = 0.374, P = 0.007) and self-care activities score (r = 0.317, P = 0.025) while age was significantly correlated to diabetes knowledge score (P = 0.008) and self-care activities score (P = 0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integrating theories of behavior change into educational interventions at the primary-care level may translate to improved care, reduced long-term complications, and better quality of life.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Formosa
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muscat
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose