Knowledge and Attitude on Insulin Self-Administration among Type 1 Diabetic Patients at Metu Karl Referral Hospital, Ethiopia

الملخص EN

Background.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.

It is a public health problem as the disease is epidemic in both developed and developing counties.

Knowledge and attitude of patients regarding insulin self-administration could lead to better management of diabetes and eventually a good quality of life.

Despite this, the evidence that showed the knowledge and attitude on insulin self-administration is a substantial deficiency in Ethiopia.

Objective.

To assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and associated factors on insulin self-administration among type 1 diabetic patients at Metu Karl Referral Hospital, Ethiopia, in 2019.

Methods.

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically selected 245 type 1 diabetic patients at Metu Karl Referral Hospital, Ethiopia, in January 2019.

The data were collected through a face-to-face interview.

The collected data were entered using EpiData version 4.2.0.0, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS version 20.

A binary logistic regression model was used.

Independent variables with a P value of less than 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model were considered significant.

Results.

Out of 242 type 1 diabetic patients interviewed, 93 (38.4%, 95% CI (32.3%-44.5%)) had good knowledge and 50 (20.7%, 95% CI (15.6%-25.8%)) had favorable attitude on insulin self-administration.

The study also found that being unmarried (AOR=3.59, 95% CI (1.15-11.3), P=0.028), increased educational level (AOR=3.02, 95% CI (1.36-6.74), P=0.007), and more years of treatment (AOR=3.70, 95% CI (1.16-11.8), P=0.027) were factors associated with good knowledge on insulin self-administration, whereas being a member of DM association (AOR=3.57, 95% CI (1.66-7.69), P=0.001) was the only factor associated with favorable attitude on insulin self-administration.

Conclusion.

The knowledge and attitude on insulin self-administration among type 1 diabetic patients were substantially low.

Diabetes and insulin self-administration education should be imparted by health professionals at each follow-up visit.

Besides, strengthening of information, education, and communication (IEC) on the issue of diabetes and insulin self-administration using mass media (television/radio) plays paramount importance.