Abstract
Objectives To evaluate the general diabetes knowledge among patients with type 2 diabetes and to assess the relationship of knowledge scores with the control of glycaemia by patients.
Methods A cross-sectional study design was used. The study was conducted in the Diabetes Clinic of the Penang General Hospital, Penang, Malaysia, and involved the use of the validated Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test (MDKT). A convenience sample of 540 type 2 diabetic outpatients was identified between October 2009 and April 2010. Patients with type 2 diabetes were asked to complete a short questionnaire about sociodemographic data and their knowledge about diabetes. Medical records were reviewed for haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels and other disease-related data.
Key findings Only 505 patients were included in the final analysis, with a mean age of 58.15 years (SD = 9.16 years), around 50% males and a mean HbA1C of 7.94% (SD = 1.61%). MDKT scores ranged from 0 to 14; the total mean of the scores was 7.44 (SD = 3.08). A significantly higher score for knowledge (P < 0.05) was found in those patients with lower HbA1C levels and significant differences were found in HbA1C levels among the three knowledge groups (P < 0.05). The correlation coefficient between HbA1C and knowledge score was -0.39 (P < 0.001).
Conclusions The study identified that Malaysian patients with diabetes have knowledge in terms of the disease and its management, but that this knowledge is inadequate and still needs to be improved, especially in those with a shorter duration of diabetes, and a low level of education and monthly income.