IS KNOWLEDGE OF DIABETES AND ITS MANAGEMENT INFLUENCE ADHERENCE TO EXERCISE, HEALTHY DIET AND MEDICATIONS?: A SURVEY AMONG SUDANESE PATIENTS IN KHARTOUM STATE; SUDAN.

Ahmed Tagelsir Mohamed Ali (Msc)*, Prof. Yousif MA, Abubaker Ibrahim Elbur

ABSTRACT

Background: Non-adherence to self-care practices and medications represents a challenge to the control of diabetes. This study main aim was to measure patients' knowledge of diabetes and its management and to identify the influence of knowledge on the level of adherence to self-care practices and medications. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during 15th February– 30th May 2013 in Khartoum State; Sudan. Adults (aged >18 years) diabetic patients on medical treatment were recruited. Convenience method of sampling was adopted. Data was collected through face-to face interview method by a structured questionnaire. Data was processed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: A total of 400 patients was recruited with a mean age of 54 years. Of them 230(57.5%) were males. Nearly two-third suffered from diabetes for < 5 years and 50% were living with another disease /s concomitantly with diabetes. Patients had satisfactory knowledge on diabetes were 132 (33.0%). The rate of adherence to diet, exercise, and medications was 24.5%, 33.3% and 9.5% respectively. Adherence to diet was significantly associated with the presence of other disease/s (P = 0.020). Patients who had diabetes for a duration < 5 years were more adherent to a healthy diet compared to those living with the disease for a duration > 5 years ( P = 0.002). Predictors of adherence to medications were educational level and duration of diabetes (P = 0.024) and (P = 0.005) respectively. Conclusions: The study revealed wide room for improvement in patients’ knowledge of their disease and its management together with low adherence to self-care practices. Health education and patient motivation are badly needed to upgrade patients’ knowledge and to improve adherence.

Keywords: Diabetes, Knowledge, Adherence, Diet , Exercise, Medications.