Misconception and Knowledge about Diabetes in Elderly Diabetics

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diabetes was common problem in older adults. However, there were widespread misconceptions about possible consequences of uncontrolled hyperglycemia. So we studied the frequency of misconceptions and their relationship with knowledge about diabetes. glycemic control, and clinical characteristics of elderly diabetic patients. METHODS: Among 127 medical records of elderly diabetic patients. we investigated age. sex, duration of diabetes. onset age of diabetes, body mass index. We interviewed about history of admission due to diabetes information source of diabetes, level of education, experience of education for diabetes and self care status such as self monitoring of blood glucose and urine glucose. daily foot care and measurement of body weight. For evaluation of misconception and knowledge. we used structured interviews based on validated scales. RESULTS: There was no relationship between frequency of misconception and age, sex, duration of diabetes, information source of diabetes level of education, experience of education for diabetes and self care status such as self monitoring of blood glucose.and urine glucose, daily foot care and measurement of body weight. But the score of knowledge was related with good glycemic control state (Hb Alc < 7.0%) and good self-care status (self monitoring of blood glucose, and measurement of body weight) And linear relationship between the frequency of misconception and score of knowledge was found ( p<0.001) CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that the glycemic control was related with the score of knowledge, but not with frequency of misconception. But further study about other misconceptions will be needed for improving patients quality of life and reducing long-term complication.