Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Outcomes: Evaluating the Impact of Counseling in Hospitalized Diabetic Patients in India

Abstract

Background: Patient involvement forms the cornerstone of the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Objective: We evaluated the results of counseling selected hospitalized diabetic patients about their medications, disease, and lifestyle modifications in terms of knowledge, attitude, and practice outcomes. Methods: Diabetic patients were counseled via regular bedside meetings, via the distribution of leaflets throughout their hospital stay, and during regular follow-up visits for two months after discharge from the hospital. Results: Forty-six patients (19 in the test group and 27 controls) completed the study. In the test group, 12 patients (63.1%) were counseled in Kannada, the local language of the study site. A total of 30 to 60 minutes was spent in counseling 63.1% of the patients. Insulin was explained to 13 patients (68.4%); among the oral antidiabetic agents, metformin was discussed with 10 (52.6%) of the 19 patients. Although knowledge scores in the test group of patients improved, compared with those of the control group, as determined by the Man–Whitney test (P < .05), we did not observe significant improvement in attitude or practice outcomes. Conclusion: Patient counseling by a clinical pharmacist improved knowledge scores, but this improved knowledge did not lead to appropriate attitudes or practices.