Knowledge, attitude and practice towards diabetes among healthcare patient in tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM) pose a major global health threat, with DM being the fourth leading cause of death. Despite advancements in diagnosis and management, a gap remains between ideal treatment goals and outcomes. Raising awareness and understanding Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among diabetics is crucial for effective diabetes control and reducing healthcare costs. Aims and objectives: To assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice [KAP] towards diabetes among health care patients. Methodology: The study included 289 subjects meeting the inclusion criteria of adults with type 2 diabetes, while excluding those under 18, with type 1 or gestational diabetes, or unwilling to consent. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire after obtaining written informed consent. Results: This study of 289 participants found that 52% were female and 47% male. Most were aged 51-70 years, with 30.1% having higher secondary education a majority (86.5%) belonged to the middle class, and most had diabetes for 1-10 years. The study found that KAP scores were significantly associated with education level, occupation, duration of diabetes, and socio-economic status. Conclusion: This study identified significant gaps in diabetes-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices, including awareness of medication side effects, foot care, and regular eye check-ups. Attitudinal barriers to routine blood glucose monitoring were also observed. KAP scores were significantly associated with demographic factors such as education, occupation, diabetes duration, and socioeconomic status. Tailored patient counseling was essential to address these gaps and improve diabetes management.