RESUMO
Little is known about the degree of utilization of information resources on diabetes by general practitioners [GPs] and its impact on their clinical behavior in developing countries. Such information is vital if GPs' diabetes knowledge is to be improved. This cross-sectional study recruited 319 GPs in the summer of 2008. Questions were about the updates on diabetes knowledge in the previous two years, utilization of information resources [domestic and foreign journals, congresses, the Internet, reference books, mass media, and peers], attitude toward the importance of each resource, and impact of each resource on clinical behavior. A total of 62% of GPs had used information resources for improving their knowledge on diabetes in the previous two years. Domestic journals accounted for the highest utilization [30%] and the highest importance score [83 points from 100]; with the importance score not being affected by sex, years elapsed after graduation, and numbers of diabetic visits. Clinical behavior was not influenced by the information resources listed; whereas knowledge upgrade, irrespective of the sources utilized, had a significantly positive correlation with clinical behavior. Domestic journals constituted the main information resource utilized by the GPs; this resource, however, in tandem with the other information resources on diabetes exerted no significant impact on the GPs' clinical behavior. In contrast to the developed countries, clinical guidelines do not have any place as a source of information and or practice. Indubitably, the improvement of diabetes knowledge transfer requires serious interventions to improve information resources as well as the structure of scientific gatherings and collaborations
RESUMO
Diabetes among Eastern Mediterranean [EM] population above age of 20 years is around 10.5% and is ranked among the leading causes of blindness, renal failure and lower limb amputation. While 50% of EM people with diabetes will die of cardiovascular diseases. This means that in our region, there are pandemic trends in prevalence of diabetes and associated complications. Globally, people with diabetes are 25 times more likely to have a leg amputated than those without the condition, and up to 70% of all leg amputations happen to people with diabetes. Somewhere in the world, a leg is lost to diabetes every 30 seconds. Foot ulcer is the most common single precursor to lower extremity amputations among diabetics. Hyperglycemia, impaired immunologic responses, neuropathy, and peripheral arterial disease are the major predisposing factors leading to limb-threatening diabetic foot infections. Diabetic foot represents a health problem and economic burden among majority of EM Countries. Infection in a diabetic foot is limb-threatening and must be treated empirically and aggressively. Treatment of infected foot wounds is the most common reason for diabetes- related hospitalization. The good news is that up to 85 percent of diabetic amputations can be prevented. As to above challenge, the best approach for EMR is education, community awareness and prevention of diabetic foot. The public approach and education that emphasize on proper footwear and foot care are best preventive and cost-effective modalities that can be easily implemented among EM Countries. EM Countries need to strengthen national health services that promote the concept of prevention and tight control of diabetes in order to prevention diabetes complications. This also necessitates building/strengthening diabetes registry and complications