Knowledge Attitude and Self care behavior of Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Phrae Province

Abstract

This study is a descriptive research in order to explain current health status and overall behavior of diabetic patients who have taken a medical service at the Community Health Center in Phrae Province. The population was from the diabetic patients who have registered in the Community Health Center in Phrae Province during 1st June – 30th September 2006, totaling 8,737 persons. 480 sample persons were the diabetic patients simply sampled from 48 Community Health Centers, 10 persons each center, Interview with the diabetic patients was a tool of this study. The contents of the interview consisted of questions on characteristics of the sample group, current health status, knowledge about diabetes. Attitude towards diabetes, and behaviors of diabetic patients. The findings were examined for correctness of data and were analyzed by statistics, percentage, average, and standard deviation. The study summarized that two-third of sample group of the diabetic patients who have taken a medical service at the Community health Center in Phrae Province was female, aged 55 years old in average. Most of them were new patients and have suffered from diabetes for 1-5 years. According to their overall health status, the Body Mass Index(BMI) was in normal level. However, one-third of the patients had BMI higher than the criteria. Only 33.3% of the sample group could control the blood glucose at the level without any harm and complications. The level of all knowledge about diabetes was good with the good score. In addition, the knowledge about diabetes complications was good, while the knowledge about practices when being diabetic was in moderate level. Moreover, the study found that the attitude towards the diabetes was low, particularly the attitude towards the diabetes complications and practices when being diabetic. Except the attitude towards having diabetes was in moderate level. The overall behavior on taking care of the sample group’s health was in the moderate level. When considering separately, the finding showed that the behavior on overall treatment was moderate but taking medicine under the doctor’s prescription was rather low. The overall behavior on health promotion was in the moderate level, tut the proper exercise was rather low. In addition, the overall of eating behavior was moderate, but the punctual meal was quite low. Finally, the overall behavior on taking care of one’s self when being diabetic was moderate, while the correct blood glucose test in urine, both by collection of a urine sample and urine self testing, was in rater low level.