Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice in a sample of Iraqi type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract

Background:  knowledge; attitude and practice backgrounds affect much the outcome of diabetes. Non-compliance imposes a considerable health care and financial burden on the health system. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice background of type 2 diabetes Iraqi patients toward their disease by using the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) questionnaire. Results: Mean knowledge score was 6.48+2.66, attitude score was 5.28+2.07 and practice score was 4.62+1.49. males showed significantly higher KAP scores than females (P<0.001). Patients with higher significant education had the highest knowlegde score in comparison with those with  secondary eduction; the difference was statistically highly significant (P<0.001). Patients  living in urban areas showed significantly higher mean score than those living in rural areas (P<0.001). Patients who had jobs experienced a significantly higher knowledge score than those without job (P<0.001). Smoker patients had significantly higher KAP scores than non-smoker patients (P<0.001). Conclusion: The study concluded that low/ moderate knowledge, attitude and practice of diabetes among the diabetic patients, which need more effort and role to be played by clinical pharmacist to fulfill this gap.