Evaluation of Knowledge and Practice of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Tehran University Medical Sciences Hospitals-2016

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition becoming a worldwide health problem as a result of sedentary life style, obesity and some other risk factors. It is hypothesized that one of the barriers to achieve a proper control in diabetic patients is lack of sufficient knowledge about their disease. In this study we evaluated the knowledge and practice of patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: From February 2015 to August 2016, two hundred and thirty five patients with type 2 diabetes were included in a cross-sectional study and their knowledge and practice were assessed using a questionnaire validated in Iran. All samples were interviewed exclusively by one physician. Data extracted from the questionnaires were analyzed and compared to their mean HbA1c, blood pressure and lipid profile. The scores were also analyzed in different subgroups. Results: The mean age of patients was 56.34; mean total score of patients was 13.34 out of possible 26 in which 5.24 (out of 11) were knowledge scores and 8.10 (out of 15) were practice scores. Knowledge score was significantly higher in women and highly educated people; but there were no significant relationships between score and duration of diabetes, mean HbA1c, blood pressure and lipid profile. Conclusion: Most of patients with type 2 diabetes did not have an adequate level of knowledge about the disease. Their practice seems to have lacks in some aspects as well. Therefore actions should be taken to rectify these deficits and decrease the disease complications.