Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: To determine the factors influencing the level of knowledge and attitudes of diabetics consulting in first and third line in the Sousse region (Tunisia).

Patients and Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional study. Diabetics were included by proportional sampling in 11 basic health centers and six hospital departments and outpatient clinics of the university hospital centers of Sousse. The developed questionnaire was self-administered in Arabic. It included patient demographic characteristics data, diabetes-specific data, the Simplified Diabetes Knowledge Scale to measure knowledge and the Diabetes Attitude Scale-3 to measure attitudes towards diabetes.

Results: We collected 1007 diabetics. Factors influencing the acquisition of a good level of knowledge were high school (adjusted OR=2.23) or university education (adjusted OR=3.55), living in an urban area (adjusted OR=2.49), and stable employment (adjusted OR=3.04). Type 2 diabetes (adjusted OR=4.02), insulin therapy (adjusted OR=4.14), previous therapeutic education sessions (adjusted OR=1.55), self-monitoring of blood glucose (adjusted OR=2.67), and regular medical follow-up (adjusted OR=1.54) also influenced the level of diabetes knowledge. Acceptable glycemic control (adjusted OR= 4.20) was a factor in the development of good attitudes about diabetes.

Discussion: Identification of factors influencing the level of diabetes knowledge and attitudes is an integral part of educational diagnosis. These factors must be taken into account when establishing a personalized therapeutic education program adapted to each patient.