Determinants of misconceptions about diabetes among Saudi diabetic patients attending diabetes clinic at a tertiary care hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

To identify the determinants of misconceptions about diabetes in patients registered with a diabetes clinic at a tertiary care hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional survey was carried out at a diabetes clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia, from January to December 2012. A total of 200 diabetic patients were interviewed using a questionnaire comprising 36 popular misconceptions. The total misconception score was calculated and categorized into low [0-12], moderate [13-24] and high [25-36] scores. The association of misconception score with various potential determinants was calculated using Chi-square test. Step-wise logistic regression was applied to the variables showing significant association with the misconception score in order to identify the determinants of misconceptions. The mean age was 39.62 +/- 16.7 and 112 [56%] subjects were females. Type 1 diabetics were 78 [39%], while 122 [61%] had Type 2 diabetes. Insulin was being used by 105 [52.5%], 124 [62%] were self-monitoring blood glucose and 112 [56%] were using diet control. Formal education on diabetes awareness had been received by 167 [83.5%] before the interview. The mean misconception score was 10.29 +/- 4.92 with 115 [57.5%] subjects had low misconception scores [<12/36]. On the Chi-square test, female gender, rural area of residence, little or no education, <5 or >15 years since diagnosis, no self-monitoring, no dietary control and no diabetes education were all significantly [P < 0.05] associated with higher misconception scores. Step-wise logistic regression suggested that diabetes education, gender, education and time since diagnosis were significant [P < 0.05] predictors of misconception scores. The strongest determinants of misconceptions about diabetes in our study population were female gender, rural area of residence, illiteracy or little education, <5 or >15 years since diagnosis, no self-monitoring, no diet control and no education about diabetes