Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Self-care plays a fundamental role in the treatment and prevention of complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). The patient knowledge about DM and its potential complications are among the factors that are associated with treatment adherence. The process of understanding the disease provides the patient better communication with professionals, better metabolic and psychosocial results which may influence on their emotional well-being and quality of life.

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the patients’ knowledge about DM 2 and adherence to self-care.

Methods: Analytical, observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study. Diabetic patients being monitored at the outpatient clinic were evaluated regarding their knowledge about DM and adherence to self-care through two questionnaires validated for the Brazilian population – Diabetes Knowlege Scale (DKN-A) and Self-Care Activity Questionnaire (QAD). The first is composed by 15 items about five major dimensions of knowledge in DM - basic pathophysiology, hypoglycemia, food groups and substitutions, complications, and general care with the disease. The second, has 6 dimensions and 15 assessment items related to self-care with diabetes (general diet, specific diet, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, foot care, medication use, smoking).

Results: Sixty-one patients with DM2 participated in the study. In the QAD, patients’ low adherence to daily self-care practices was observed, with the physical activity domain having the lowest adherence, followed by blood glucose monitoring. As for the results obtained in the DKN-A, it is noted that most reached a score equal to or greater than 8, suggesting satisfactory knowledge about the disease. The questions about food groups and substitutions were the ones with the lowest average of correct answers.

Conclusions: When analyzing the results obtained about the knowledge of diabetic patients about their disease, it is observed that the majority (67.2%) reached a score equal to or greater than 8, suggesting satisfactory knowledge about the disease. Despite this, the majority showed low adherence to the expected changes in lifestyle and self-care. Therefore, it is necessary to differentiate knowledge from the level of information - knowledge goes beyond the act of reproducing information, as it presupposes changes in attitudes, behaviors, and habits acquired throughout life. In this way, education about diabetes can be placed as one of the pillars for a satisfactory treatment, promoting a better quality of life for the patient and reducing the chances of complications.