Influence of education and occupation on knowledge about diabetes control

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Public Health
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Diabetes prevalence is rising globally, with a significant increase predicted in India.
• Effective diabetes management relies on patient knowledge, particularly regarding blood glucose testing.
• This study investigates the influence of education and occupation on diabetes self-care knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between educational attainment and occupational status and patients' knowledge of diabetes control.
• To identify gaps in understanding essential diabetes self-care practices among patients with type 2 diabetes.
• To inform the development of targeted educational interventions for diabetes management.

Main Methods:

• Direct interviews were conducted with 793 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
• Knowledge levels regarding blood glucose testing and metabolic control were assessed.
• Statistical analyses, including z-tests and t-tests, were used to compare knowledge across educational and occupational groups.

Main Results:

• Only 46.7% of patients recognized the importance of blood glucose testing.
• Awareness of microalbuminuria, lipid profiles, and glycosylated hemoglobin was low (24.1%, 15.5%, and 7.6%, respectively).
• Higher education levels correlated positively with increased overall knowledge, but occupation showed no significant relationship with knowledge.

Conclusions:

• A significant deficit in diabetes self-care knowledge exists across all demographic strata, including healthcare professionals.
• There is an urgent need for enhanced public awareness campaigns regarding diabetes management.
• Findings provide a basis for creating tailored educational resources to improve diabetes self-care.