Public Knowledge, Attitudes and Self-Practice towards Diabetes Mellitus in Kangar, Perlis
Public KAP towards Diabetes Mellitus
Vol. 16 No. 1 : 2021 (150-162)
Abstract
In Malaysia, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was the second highest in Perlis. Prevention and management of DM are largely dependent on self-care in our daily lives. Nonetheless, we have little information concerning factors influencing public engagement in DM self-practice, which might have contributed to the high prevalence of DM in Perlis. This study was conducted to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and factors associated with self-practice towards DM among the public in Kangar, Perlis. A cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2018 for three months. Eligible participants were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire in public areas in Kangar. Descriptive analyses on the sociodemographic, medical backgrounds, knowledge, attitudes, and self-practice towards DM were performed. Independent t-test and Spearman’s correlation were performed to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, knowledge, and attitudes with self-practice towards DM. Multiple linear regression was used to adjust for potential confounding variables. A total of 319 respondents consented and participated in this study. Most of the respondents were female (66.5%), Malay (94%), and had tertiary education (51.7%). Overall, most participants had good scores on knowledge (80.3%), attitudes (98.4%), and self-practice (97.2%) towards DM. A statistically significant positive association was found between age, education level, and attitudes score with DM self-practice (p<0.05). This study suggests a well-structured educational program on diabetes self-care should start as early as in school to clarify public misconceptions on DM management.
Keywords :
attitudes,
Diabetes mellitus,
knowledge,
Public,
Self-Practice,
Correspondance Address
Pei Pei Soo, Pharmaceutical Services Divisions, State Health Department of Perlis, 48C, Jalan Raja Syed Alwi, Kampung Guar Syed Alwi, 01000 Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia. Tel: +6049765033 ext 1104 Email: peipeisoo@hotmail.com
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