Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: This study aimed to translate into Arabic and validate the questionnaires "Simplified Diabetes Knowledge Scale" (SDKS), "Diabetes Attitude Scale-3" (DAS-3) and "Diabetes Health Profile-18" (DHP-18) and to study the predictive factors of the level of knowledge, attitudes and quality of life of diabetics in the health region of Sousse.

Population and Methods: A methodological study of psychometric validation was carried out to meet the objective of translation and validation of the questionnaires. A second cross-sectional study was conducted to achieve the main objective of the study. Type 1 and type 2 diabetics from the health region of Sousse, aged 18 years and older and able to read and understand a newspaper in literary Arabic were included. The instrument developed contained a section to collect demographic and clinical data from the patients. Subsequent sections contained the Arabic translated and validated versions of the SDKS, DAS-3 and DHP-18.

Results: Analysis of the responses to the three questionnaires from 333 diabetics produced valid and reliable Arabic versions. One thousand and seven diabetics were collated to study the predictors of the level of knowledge, attitudes and quality of life of diabetics. The level of diabetes knowledge was related to demographic factors: high school (adjusted OR=2.23) and university education (adjusted OR=3.55), urban habitat (adjusted OR=2.49) stable employment (adjusted OR=3.04) and clinical factors: type 2 diabetes (adjusted OR= 4.02), insulin therapy (adjusted OR= 4.14), prior therapeutic education (adjusted OR=1.55), self-monitoring of blood glucose (adjusted OR=2.67), and regular medical follow-up (adjusted OR=1.54). The development of positive attitudes towards diabetes was related to acceptable glycemic control (adjusted OR= 4.20). The quality of life of diabetics was negatively influenced by age < 40 years (adjusted OR= 2.50), type 1 diabetes (adjusted OR=1.91), duration of diabetes of more than 10 years (adjusted OR=1.43) and low level of knowledge about the disease (OR=1.71).

Conclusion: Valid and reliable Arabic versions of the SDKS, DAS-3, and DHP-18 were produced and are available to caregivers for the assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and quality of life of diabetics. The identification of factors affecting these parameters can be used as a basis for the development of a therapeutic education program adapted to this population