Knowledge of complications of diabetes mellitus among patients visiting the diabetes clinic at Sampa Government Hospital, Ghana: a descriptive study

Abstract

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) appears to be a global epidemic and an increasingly major non-communicable disease threatening both affluent and non-affluent society. The study aimed to determine the knowledge of diabetic complications among diabetes mellitus clients visiting the Diabetic Clinical at Sampa Government Hospital, Ghana.MethodThis questionnaire-based descriptive study recruited a total 630 patients visiting the Diabetes Clinic at the Sampa Government Hospital. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain information such as socio-demographic and knowledge on complications of diabetes.ResultsOut of a total of 630 participants, 325 (51.5 %) knew diabetic foot as the most common complication followed by hypertension 223(35.4 %), neuropathy 184 (29.2 %), hypoactive sexual arousal 160(25.4 %), arousal disorder 135(21.5 %), eye diseases 112(17.7 %), heart disease 58(9.2 %), and renal disease 34(5.4 %). Comprehensive assessment of level of knowledge on the complications showed that majority 378(60.0 %) of T2D patients did not have knowledge on diabetes complications, 169(26.9 %) had inadequate knowledge on diabetics complication while 82(13.1 %) had adequate knowledge. The risk factors associated with the level of knowledge of diabetic complications were female gender adjusted odd ratio (AOR) =2.31 (1.56–3.41) married participants AOR = 3.37 (1.44–7.93), widowed AOR = 2.98 (1.10–8.08), basic level of education AOR =0.18 (0.082–0.50), Junior High School (JHS) and above of education level AOR = 0.035(0.017–0.75), 5–9 years of T2D duration AOR = 0.31(0.018–0.57), ≥10 years T2D duration AOR = 0.042 (0.02–0.10) and urban dwellers AOR = 0.36 (0.22–0.68) respectively.ConclusionParticipants knew the individual complication of diabetic mellitus but lack an in-depth knowledge on the complications. Further expansion of diabetic educative programs like using mass media and involving national curriculum of education can improve self-regulatory awareness of diabetic complications which may reduce the morbidity and mortality of diabetic patients.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3311-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Knowledge about Complications of Diabetes in Diabetic Patients Attending in General Health Checkup, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital Nepal

“…However, these findings are inconsistent with the findings of Obirikoranget al conducted among the patients visiting the diabetes clinic at the Sampa Government Hospital of Ghana [16].…”

Assessment of Patient Counselling in Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Terms of Patient Knowledge About Their Medication, Disease State and Lifestyle Modifications by Pharmacy Personnel at LDF Clinic in Maseru

“…In our study, the majority of respondents knew about a diabetic foot as a complication of diabetes mellitus and stroke as a complication of hypertension. A study by Obirikorang et al conducted in Ghana showed that type 2 diabetes mellitus complication commonly known by diabetic patients was a diabetic foot (51.5 %) [21], which was consistent with our study findings. Knowledge scores in our study showed that the majority of respondents did not know about diabetes mellitus complications and the majority had inadequate knowledge about hypertension complications.…”

“…Knowledge scores in our study showed that the majority of respondents did not know about diabetes mellitus complications and the majority had inadequate knowledge about hypertension complications. Our study findings were consistent with a study by Obirikorang et al conducted in Ghana indicating that a higher proportion of type 2 diabetes patients did not have adequate knowledge on diabetic complications [21]. A study by Adepu et al showed that at baseline the majority of participants were unaware of asymptomatic hypertension and complications associated with it [22].…”

“…Patient knowledge on diabetes mellitus management includes medicine use, risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus, and lifestyle modifications [4] which are important factors in pharmaceutical care of diabetic patients. Adequate patient knowledge on their diseases, complications associated with those diseases, and drug therapy can improve self-management which forms a vital part of an effective treatment plan [4] thus, improving patient compliance to treatment and decreasing complications associated with the disease [5]. Furthermore, patient knowledge of blood pressure (BP) in hypertension, blood glucose control in diabetes mellitus, and medications adherence play an important role in the management of diabetes mellitus and hypertension [6,7].…”

Awareness of Complications of Diabetes Mellitus and its Associated Factors among Type 2 Diabetic Patients at Addis Zemen District Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, which is adapted from different literatures, was used to collect the data (15,(23)(24)(25)(26). The questioner contains 28 diabetes complications related awareness items.…”