Patient’s demographics
Table 1compiles the demographic characteristics of included patients.The clinical trial included 500 participants from our previous study, comprising 197 females and 303 males, aged 31 to 90 years and weighingbetween 41 to >101 kgs. Educational backgrounds varied, 17% had graduation and 5.8% had master's degree. Majority of the patients (males and females) included in the study were illiterate as shown in Figure 2. Occupationally, 44% were employed, 22% unemployed, 21.2% homemakers, 10.4% retired, and 2.4% in other occupations. 254 participants had health insurance, while 246 did not have coverage. Notably, 81.4% patients exhibited blood HbA1c levels >6.5% (48 mmol/mol). Furthermore, physical activity was highest in patients who completed masters degree (Figure 3).
Identification of knowledge gaps and behavioral patterns that may influence diabetes prevention and control
The study revealed statistically significant (p<0.05) effects of various demographic parameters on knowledge scores related to diabetes prevention and control. Notably, marital status, education status, occupation, health insurance, family history, patient history, blood sugar, FBS, HbA1c, clinic visit, and physical activitysignificantly (p<0.05) influenced knowledge scores. Male patients (33.7%), married individuals (32.3%), those with a degree (60.0%) or master's (69.0%), working patients (46.4%), and those with health insurance (40.9%) reported higher knowledge scores.
Conversely, factors associated with poor knowledge scores included age >101 (100%), females (34%), widowed individuals (52.6%), illiterates (55.9%), unemployed (45.5%), housewives (42.5%), lack of health insurance (45.5%), no family history of diabetes (43.8%), diabetes history of 10 years (38.6%), elevated blood sugar levels, HbA1c level <6.0% (42 mmol/mol), annual clinic visits (36.6%), and mild physical activity (40.4%) (Table 1). These findings emphasize the diverse impact of demographic factors on patients' knowledge regarding diabetes prevention and control.
Identification of attitude score and behavioral patterns that may influence diabetes prevention and control
The study identified significant influences of demographic parameters on attitude scores related to diabetes prevention and control. Weight, age, gender, marital status, education status, occupation, health insurance, family history, patient history, clinic visit, and physical activity had a statistically significant (p<0.05) impact, while FSL, RBS, and HbA1c did not affect attitude scores significantly (p>0.05). More male patients (50.2%) exhibited good attitudes compared to females (36.0%), and higher percentages of those with a degree (75.3%) and masters (86.2%), health insurance (57.9%), family history (51.0%), and high physical activity (61.0%) reported positive attitudes. Conversely, patients with specific characteristics such as weight range 41-50 and 91-100, age group 71-80, widowed or divorced status, primary education, housewives, unemployment, lack of health insurance, no family history, 5 years of diabetes history, clinic visits every 6 months or once a year, and mild physical activity were associated with poor attitude scores (Table 1). These findings underscore the intricate relationship between demographic factors and attitudes toward diabetes prevention and control.
Identification of practice score and behavioral patterns that may influence diabetes prevention and control
Practice scores for diabetes prevention and controlwere significantly (p<0.05) affected by various demographic parameters including age, gender, marital status, education status, occupation, health insurance, family history, patient history, FSL, RBS, clinic visit, and physical activity.No significant (p>0.05) effect of HbA1c and weight on practice scores was observed.
Female patients (25.9%), unmarried individuals (43.3%), retired patients (30.8%), those with health insurance (23.2%), and those visiting diabetes clinics every 3 months (27.3%) reported higher percentages of good practice scores. Conversely, factors associated with poor practice scores included age group 31-40 (77.8%), both males and females (31%), divorced (52.9%), widowed (43.9%), illiterates (43.5%), housewives (37.7%), absence of health insurance (39%), no family history of diabetes (36.9%), recent diabetes diagnosis (38%), elevated FSL and RBS levels, clinic visits every 6 months or first-time visits, and mild physical activity (Table 1). These findings underscore the varied impact of demographic factors on patients' practices related to diabetes prevention and control.
Relationship between education status and KAP score
All parameters of knowledge score varied significantly (p<0.05) among diabetes patients grouped as per education status (Table 2). Patients with higher education were able to give correct answers on the knowledge regarding diabetes. Thus, this study shows the importance of education for spreading the awareness regarding diabetes among the patients.
Similar results were observed regarding attitude score (Table 3) and practice scores (Table 4) where there was statistically significant differences in the responses of patients as per education status and patients with higher education status showed higher attitude and practice scores.
Relationship between KAP scores:
By using chi square test association of knowledge, attitude and practice scores among DM II patients was found statistically significant (p< 0.05) with each other. Most of the patients (72.7%) had good knowledge and attitude towards DMII; more than half of patients had (52.8%) fair knowledge and practice, 52.9 % had fair practice but poor attitude towards disease (Table 5).
Predictors of knowledge, attitude and practice
This study used a multiple linear regression model to identifypredictors of knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. The R2of the model for knowledge, attitude, and practice was found to be 0.418, 0.334, and 0.255, respectively. The model showed that education status, patient history of diabetes, blood sugar level (RBS), and how often the patient attended the clinic were significantly associated with the high knowledge score (p<0.001). Additionally, marital status (p=0.008), occupation of the patient (p=0.029), health insurance (p=0.001), and physical activity (p=0.004) were also associated with the knowledge score (Table 6).
Furthermore, the model showed that marital status and education status were strongly (p<0.001) related to attitude score. Additionally, gender (p=0.01), patient history (p=0.002), and physical activity (p=0.04) were also moderately associated with attitude score (Table 6).
The model showed that age group, gender, and education status were significantly (p<0.001) associated with practice score. Additionally, marital status (p=0.003), occupation of the patient (p=0.003), health insurance (p=0.002), blood sugar level (FSL) (p=0.007), and how often the patient visited the clinic (p=0.041) were also associated with practice score (Table 6).