Survey on knowledge and attitudes regarding diabetic in-patient management by medical and nursing staff at Kalafong Hospital
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the perceptions with regards to current practices in the care of diabetic in-patients as well as the knowledge and attitudes of nursing and medical caregivers at a large secondary hospital.
Design and Methods: A survey was done of doctors and nurses taking care of diabetic inpatients to assess their knowledge of diabetes inpatient management and their attitudes towards diabetic patients. This was done with the use of the diabetes knowledge questionnaire (O’Brien) and the DAS 3 scale.
Results: The survey group consisted of 115 health care providers of which 54 was doctors and 61 was nurses. The response rate was 82%. The doctors scored a mean of 68.3% (SD 11.5%) and the nurses 53,9% (SD 16.3%) for the diabetes knowledge questionnaire. The DAS3 questionnaire indicated that 80.9% of health care personnel strongly agree that special training is necessary for managing diabetic patients, 90.5% agree or strongly agree that Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition, 92.2% agree or strongly agree that tight glycaemic control is valuable, 85.2% agree or strongly agree that diabetes have a significant psychosocial impact on patients and 88.7% agree or strongly agree that patients should have autonomy with regards to their treatment.
Conclusions: Health care workers (doctors and nurses) working in a large secondary hospital have average to poor knowledge in the care of diabetic inpatients. The DAS3 questionnaire however indicates that health care workers have a good attitude towards diabetic patients and realise that special training is necessary.
Design and Methods: A survey was done of doctors and nurses taking care of diabetic inpatients to assess their knowledge of diabetes inpatient management and their attitudes towards diabetic patients. This was done with the use of the diabetes knowledge questionnaire (O’Brien) and the DAS 3 scale.
Results: The survey group consisted of 115 health care providers of which 54 was doctors and 61 was nurses. The response rate was 82%. The doctors scored a mean of 68.3% (SD 11.5%) and the nurses 53,9% (SD 16.3%) for the diabetes knowledge questionnaire. The DAS3 questionnaire indicated that 80.9% of health care personnel strongly agree that special training is necessary for managing diabetic patients, 90.5% agree or strongly agree that Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition, 92.2% agree or strongly agree that tight glycaemic control is valuable, 85.2% agree or strongly agree that diabetes have a significant psychosocial impact on patients and 88.7% agree or strongly agree that patients should have autonomy with regards to their treatment.
Conclusions: Health care workers (doctors and nurses) working in a large secondary hospital have average to poor knowledge in the care of diabetic inpatients. The DAS3 questionnaire however indicates that health care workers have a good attitude towards diabetic patients and realise that special training is necessary.