Poor awareness among diabetic patients are some of the important variables influencing the progression of diabetes and its complications, which are largely preventable through education and involvement of the patient.

Objective: We evaluated the knowledge, attitude and practices in diabetic patients for diabetes mellitus and impact of the diabetic education on knowledge, attitude and practice(KAP) score.

Methods: The study was conducted among type 2 diabetic patients taken from O.P.D and indoor wards of M.M Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala. A total of hundred diabetic patients were enrolled in the study and randomized into the test and control groups. Each group consisted of 50 patients. The patients in the test group received diabetic education and patient education leaflet at baseline and same was given to the control group at the end of the study. Knowledge, attitude and practices were evaluated  using a KAP questionnaire with maximum score of 25(knowledge14,attitude-5 and practices-6)

Results: In our study population, 59(59%) were males and 41(41%) were females. Majority of patients (62%) were between the ages 40-59 years and maximum number of patients (53%) had diabetes less than 5years.  Most of the patients (63%)were overweight. The mean knowledge, attitude and practices score at baseline was 6.52(46.57%), 2.26(45.2%) and 2.42(40.33%) respectively and mean KAP score was 11.21(44.84%). At baseline, mean knowledge, mean attitude and mean practice score was 6.56 ± 4.06, 2.24 ± 1.65 and 1.74 ± 1.26 in the control group respectively and 6.48 ± 4.49, 2.18 ± 1.36 and 3.1 ± 1.5 in the test group respectively. Mean KAP score at baseline was 10.46 ± 6.19 in the control group and 11.96 ± 6.84 in the test group. At final follow-up, mean knowledge, mean attitude and mean practice score was 7.12 ± 3.98, 2.24 ± 1.33 and 1.92 ± 1.34 in the control group respectively and 12.12 ± 2.12,4.12± 0.87 and 4.46 ± 1.01 in the test group respectively. Mean KAP score at final follow up was 11.36 ± 6.12 in the control group and 20.78 ± 3.13 in the test group. At baseline, mean RBS was 228.58 ± 83.58 mg/dl in the control group and 265.79 ± 130.76mg/dl  in the test group, whereas at final follow-up mean RBS was 175.56 ± 48.12mg/dl and in the control group and 152.06 ± 36.42mg/dl in the test group. We observed significant increase in knowledge, attitude and practice score (p<0.0001) and significant reduction in RBS (p<0.0007) after education in the test group as compared to the control group.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that diabetic patients had low levels of knowledge, attitude and practice for diabetes mellitus. The health education is vital in improving patient’s knowledge, attitude and practices regarding diabetes mellitus and attaining better glycemic control.

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Dr Sunita Gupta

B2 Near Shiv Mandir, MMU campus Mullana Ambala India

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