AWARENESS OF DIABETES MELLITUS AMONG GENERAL PUBLIC IN SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Muhammad Qamar; Raiz Rashid; Sohail Ahmad; Faiz Ahmad Shaikh; Nahlah Elkudssiah Ismail

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i9.17747

Authors

Muhammad Qamar Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.
Raiz Rashid Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.
Sohail Ahmad Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.
Faiz Ahmad Shaikh Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.
Nahlah Elkudssiah Ismail Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i9.17747

Keywords:

Awareness, Knowledge, Diabetes mellitus, Shah Alam, Malaysia

Abstract

Â

Â Objective: Despite the improved healthcare and frequent community-ridden educational awareness campaigns, the prevalence of diabetes is enormously increasing and 50% of the Malaysian adults with diabetes are still unaware of their disease status. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the awareness of diabetes mellitus (DM) among the general public of Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in five urban areas of Shah Alam. A total of 350 participants were conveniently recruited using a pre-validated questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised two main parts, including the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents and a 24-item Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire. The data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social ScienceÂ® using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The overall mean (Â±standard deviation) score of DM knowledge of participants was 11.11Â±6.09. Among 350 respondents, more than half claimed that medication is more important than lifestyle modification in DM management. 81.7% did not know about the frequent urination and thirst are signs of DM. 82.3% had a misconception that diabetes is caused by failure of the kidneys to keep sugar out of the urine. The knowledge score was statistically significant difference across the categories of level of education, monthly income, occupations, and family history of diabetes.

Conclusion: Majority of enrolled respondents possessed moderate level of awareness and misconceptions regarding diabetes and its management. Hence, there is a need for collective efforts toward improving the level of awareness through community awareness campaigns, to improve the self-management of DM.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Muhammad Qamar, Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.

MPharm (Clinical Pharmacy), GCP, BCPS

Sohail Ahmad, Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.

MSc (Clinical Pharmacy)

Faculty of Pharmacy

References

Abegunde DO, Mathers CD, Adam T, Ortegon M, Strong K. The burden and costs of chronic diseases in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet 2007;370:1929-38.

Hjelm K, Mufunda E, Nambozi G, Kemp J. Preparing nurses to face the pandemic of diabetes mellitus: A literature review. J Adv Nurs 2003;41(5):424-34.

Wild S, Roglic G, Green A, Sicree R, King H. Global prevalence of diabetes: Estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care 2004;27(5):1047-53.

Zimmet PZ. Diabetes epidemiology as a tool to trigger diabetes research and care. Diabetologia 1999;42(5):499-518.

Hoque MA, Islam MS, Khan MA, Ahasan HN. Knowledge of diabetic complications in a diabetic population. J Med 2009;10:90-3.

Guariguata L, Whiting DR, Hambleton I, Beagley J, Linnenkamp U, Shaw JE. Global estimates of diabetes prevalence for 2013 and projections for 2035. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2014;103(2):137-49.

Shaw JE, Sicree RA, Zimmet PZ. Global estimates of the prevalence of diabetes for 2010 and 2030. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2010;87(1):4-14.

Mafauzy M. Diabetes mellitus in Malaysia. Med J Malaysia 2006;61(4):397-8.

Mustaffa BE. Diabetes epidemic in Malaysia. Med J Malaysia 2004;59(3):295-6.

Letchuman GR, Wan Nazaimoon WM, Wan Mohamad WB, Chandran LR, Tee GH, Jamaiyah H, et al. Prevalence of diabetes in the Malaysian national health morbidity survey III 2006. Med J Malaysia 2010;65(3):180-6.

Thabit MF. Awareness regarding diabetes mellitus and itsâ€™ complications in Type 2 diabetic patients. Al Kindy Coll Med J 2013;9:25-8.

Garcia AA, Villagomez ET, Brown SA, Kouzekanani K, Hanis CL. The Starr county diabetes education study: Development of the Spanish-language diabetes knowledge questionnaire. Diabetes Care 2001;24(1):16-21.

Pongmesa T, Li SC, Wee HL. A survey of knowledge on diabetes in the central region of Thailand. Value Health 2009;12:S110-3.

Qamar M, Lau WH, Ahmed A, Ahmed F, Khan J, Mahmud A. Knowledge of diabetes mellitus, risk factors and complications among the general public in Kuala Lumpur. World J Pharm Res 2015;4:1-18.

Sagaran R, Srinivasan N. Public awareness of diabetes mellitus in Klang district, Selangor. Int J Allied Med Sci Clin Res 2014;2:186-95.

Mohd MN, Dali AF, Ahmad A, Sulaiman S, Hussin SN, Nâ€™Ainun M. Knowledge and attitude on diabetes among public in Kota Bharu. Int J Educ Res 2014;2:1-10.

Institute for Public Health (IPH). National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS. 2015). Vol. II. Non-Communicable Diseases, Risk Factors and Other Health Problems; 2015.

Arafat M, Salam A, Arafat O. The association of Type 2 diabetes with obesity and other factors: In multinational community. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci 2014;6:257-60. Available from: http://www.innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijpps/article/view/2179/1230.

Moradi M, Mousavi S. Drug use evaluation of diabetes mellitus in non-hospitalized patients. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci 2016;8:337-41. Available from: http://www.innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijpps/article/view/12858.

Khalam A, Dilip C, Shinu C. Drug use evaluation of diabetes mellitus in hospitalized patients of a tertiary care referral hospital. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2012;23(4):173-7.

Van den Brink G, Schwartzenberg RR, Hoeve LJ, Porsius AJ, Hoeve LL. The use of hypoglycaemic and cardiovascular drugs in 582 patients with diabetes mellitus. Description and quality assessment. Pharm World Sci 1993;15(3):128-31.

Wee HL, Ho HK, Li SC. Public awareness of diabetes mellitus in Singapore. Singapore Med J 2002;43(3):128-34.

Mohieldein AA, Alzohairy M, Hasan M. Awareness of diabetes mellitus among Saudi non-diabetic population in Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. J Diabetes Endocrinol 2011;2:14-9. Available from: http://www.174.142.63.240/article/article1379411353_Mohieldeinetal.pdf.

Ding CH, Teng CL, Koh CN. Knowledge of diabetes mellitus among diabetic and non-diabetic patients in Klinik Kesihatan Seremban. Med J Malays 2006;61:399-404.

Ahmad S, Srivastava A, Bansal R, Parashar P, Pant B. Knowledge and awareness regarding diabetes mellitus in slum of Meerut. Indian J Community Health 2013;25:12-5.

Murata GH, Shah JH, Adam KD, Wendel CS, Bokhari SU, Solvas PA, et al. Factors affecting diabetes knowledge in Type 2 diabetic veterans. Diabetologia 2003;46(8):1170-8.

Rahman ZU, Irshad M, Khan I, Abbas HU. A survey of awareness regarding diabetes and its management among patients with diabetes in Peshawar, Pakistan. J Postgrad Med Inst 2014;28:372-7.

Soltanian AR, Bahreini F, Afkhami-Ardekani M. People awareness about diabetes disease and its complications among aged 18 years and older in Bushehr port inhabitants (Iran). Diabet Metab Syndr Clin Res Rev 2007;1:245-9.

Berhe KK, Gebru HB, Kahsay HB, Kahsay AA. Diabetes and metabolism assessment of diabetes knowledge and its associated factors among Type 2 diabetic patients in Mekelle and Ayder referral hospitals, Ethiopia. J Diabet Metab Disord 2014;5:7-9.

Binh T, Phuong P, Nhung B. Knowledge and associated factors towards Type 2 diabetes among a rural population in the red river delta region, Vietnam. Int Electron J Rural Remote Health Res Educ Pract Policy 2015;15:3275.

Gonzalez HM, Vega WA, Rodrigue MA, Tarraf M, Sribney WM. Diabetes awareness and knowledge among latinos: Does a usual source of healthcare matter? J Gen Intern Med 2009;24:528-33.

Jasper US, Ogundunmade BG, Opara MC, Akinrolie O, Pyiki EB, Umar A. Determinants of diabetes knowledge in a cohort of Nigerian diabetics. J Diabet Metab Disord 2014;13:1-8.

Strauss SM, Singh G, Tuthill J, Brodsky A, Rosedale M, Bytyci A, et al. Diabetes-related knowledge and sources of information among periodontal patients: Is there a role for dental hygienists? J Dent Hyg 2014;87:82-9.