| الوصف: |
Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with high morbidity, premature mortality and socioeconomic burden globally. Knowledge of diabetes plays an integral role in attaining desirable diabetes self-care and clinical outcomes of patients. However, frequently diabetes is inadequately controlled in clinical practice despite provided diabetes self-management education and advances in treatment. Optimal glycaemic control prevents or delays diabetic complications, morbidity and premature mortality. Objectives: To determine the level of adequacy of glycaemic control and knowledge of diabetes among ambulatory T2DM patients at Mbagathi Hospital, Nairobi. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Diabetes outpatient clinic, Mbagathi Hospital. Subjects: One hundred and sixty five patients with T2DM selected by random sampling, aged 40 years and above, each on one anti-diabetes regimen for a period of not less than 3 consecutive months. Methods: The study was undertaken over a period of six months from June 2015 during routine diabetes clinics. Glycaemic control was assessed using HbA1c assay, while knowledge of diabetes and adherence to medications were evaluated using the MDRTC diabetes knowledge test questionnaire and the 4-point modified Morisky Medication Adherence Scale respectively. Results: Of the 165 patients with T2DM recruited, 66.1% females. Mean age (±SD) was 55.7 ± 9.5 years. Level of glycaemic control was 25.5%, knowledge of diabetes was 90.9% and adherence to medication was 37.6%. Mean DKT score (±SD) was 64.3 ± 15.3%, which was satisfactory. Non-adherence to medication was high, at 62.4%. Literacy rate was 93.3%. The study population was largely of low socio-economic status. Sub-optimal glycaemic control was possibly due to low socio-economic status, which impacted on adherence to diabetic diet and medications. Glycaemic control was significantly associated with single (marital) status (p = 0.005), formal employment (p = 0.05), and diabetes education acquired over one year prior to study entry ... |
