Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 181 (A-2001/2)An Evaluation of Diabetic Patients' Knowledge and Attitude Towards Diabetesin Al Ain DistrictStudent Authors: Ali Khamis Hamad Khamis Al-Bedwawi, Khalid Abdulla Ali AbdullaYaroof, Mohamed Khalfan Ali Hafesh Al KhateriFaculty Supervisors: Prof. A. Bener, Dr. M. Newson-SmithAbstract:Objective To assess the knowledge and attitudes of national diabetic patientsregarding diabetes.Methods We conducted a cross sectional survey of patients with diabetes presenting toprimary health care in Al-Ain. The knowledge and attitude of these patients wereassessed by using questionnaire comprising 37 questions.Results A total of 152 patients entered the study; the mean age was 53 years whilethe median was 55 years. Over 80% of the patients identified the risk factors ofdiabetes. Knowledge about the disease symptoms was good over 60% identifiedfatigue, increase appetite, feeling thirsty. Only 47.4% of the subject knew aboutkidney damage, while other complications were well known. The over all knowledgewas not affected by genders.Conclusions From our study, we found that the majority of national diabetics havegood knowledge in some areas, and poor in others. These areas could be improved bysuch means of intensifying the diabetic program in the PRC e.g. show the diabetics avideotape.