Knowledge of diabetes mellitus and its ocular complications amongst diabetic patients attending private and public hospitals in eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is increasing in South Africa as a result of changes in lifestyles and rising levels of obesity. Knowledge of management protocols for DM may empower patients to better control the disease and prevent secondary complications.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine if there was a difference in the level of knowledge of DM and its ocular complications amongst public and private hospital diabetic patients.Setting: The study was conducted in four private and four public hospitals in the eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province.Methods: A cross-sectional survey method was used to collect data from diabetic patients attending selected hospitals. Convenience sampling was used and analysis of descriptive and correlation statistics was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.Results: Participants (N = 370) consisted of 44% males and 56% females with 41.6% being from private and 58.4% from public hospitals. The ages of participants ranged from 20 to 79 years. Although most of the participants (74.8%) were knowledgeable about DM and its management, private sector patients were more knowledgeable about DM management than were public sector patients (p = 0.000). Furthermore, private patients had better knowledge of ocular complications related to DM (p = 0.000). Those (74%) who had previously attended a diabetic seminar had significantly better knowledge than those who had not (p = 0.000).Conclusion: Patients with DM attending public hospitals will benefit from targeted education campaigns or seminars related to diabetes and its complications.

Knowledge and Awareness about Oral Manifestations of Diabetes Mellitus Among Type -II Diabetes Patients in Chengalpet District, Tamil Nadu, India

“…The majority of patients in our study (between 70% and 75%) were unaware of the oral symptoms of diabetes mellitus. This study is comparable to that conducted by Parakh M et al, which revealed a serious lack of awareness among those with diabetes mellitus (7). Our data contradicts a study by Staden et al that found patients were aware of the oral symptom, most likely as a result of the study being conducted among better educated people (8).…”

Diabetic patients’ awareness regarding diabetes mellitus and its ocular complications at the National District Hospital in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa

“…This finding is consistent with other studies done in South Africa. 12,15,16,17,18 In the current study, the most represented age group of the participants were 50-59 years (32.8%) with only 7.1% of the participants younger than 40 years of age. Mabaso and Oduntan 18 explained that the increased age of the participants might be due to older people being more likely to utilise government health services than the younger age groups.…”

“…Previous studies in South Africa have investigated the knowledge of DM and its ocular implications amongst diabetic patients 12,15,16,17,18 , and Clarke-Farr et al 12 found that diabetic patients in the Western Cape had a basic level of understanding of their disease and the possible ocular complications, but noticed that the daily management of the condition was not optimally followed. They further found that only 30% of these individuals had yearly eye examinations.…”

“…The participants from the study of Mashige et al 16 were mainly from a community Clinic at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Eye Clinic. Another study, by Van Staden et al, 17 done in 2015 within KwaZulu-Natal, included participants that attended private and public hospitals.…”

Awareness and Knowledge of Diabetic Eye Disease Among Diabetic Patients Presenting to Eye Opd in Central India

“…Anupama et al 12 in 150 subjects found only 45.3% awareness about DR and only 25.3% of them had knowledge regarding the risk factors of DR, the importance of routine eye examination and available treatment options. In a study done in South Africa, 13 they found that the subjects had 74.8% knowledge about diabetes and its ocular complications. Other studies reported that the level of awareness about eye complications due to DM was 72% in Oman, 14 96% in Australia, 15 52% in USA 16 and 98% observed in Japan.…”