Knowledge and Attitude on Insulin Self-Administration among Type 1 Diabetic Patients at Metu Karl Referral Hospital, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background . Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. It is a public health problem as the disease is epidemic in both developed and developing counties. Knowledge and attitude of patients regarding insulin self-administration could lead to better management of diabetes and eventually a good quality of life. Despite this, the evidence that showed the knowledge and attitude on insulin self-administration is a substantial deficiency in Ethiopia. Objective . To assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and associated factors on insulin self-administration among type 1 diabetic patients at Metu Karl Referral Hospital, Ethiopia, in 2019. Methods . An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically selected 245 type 1 diabetic patients at Metu Karl Referral Hospital, Ethiopia, in January 2019. The data were collected through a face-to-face interview. The collected data were entered using EpiData version 4.2.0.0, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS version 20. A binary logistic regression model was used. Independent variables with a <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><mml:mi>P</mml:mi></mml:math> value of less than 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model were considered significant. Results . Out of 242 type 1 diabetic patients interviewed, 93 (38.4%, 95% CI (32.3%-44.5%)) had good knowledge and 50 (20.7%, 95% CI (15.6%-25.8%)) had favorable attitude on insulin self-administration. The study also found that being unmarried (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:mtext>AOR</mml:mtext><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>3.59</mml:mn></mml:math>, 95% CI (1.15-11.3), <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.028</mml:mn></mml:math>), increased educational level (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M4"><mml:mtext>AOR</mml:mtext><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>3.02</mml:mn></mml:math>, 95% CI (1.36-6.74), <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M5"><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.007</mml:mn></mml:math>), and more years of treatment (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M6"><mml:mtext>AOR</mml:mtext><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>3.70</mml:mn></mml:math>, 95% CI (1.16-11.8), <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M7"><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.027</mml:mn></mml:math>) were factors associated with good knowledge on insulin self-administration, whereas being a member of DM association (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M8"><mml:mtext>AOR</mml:mtext><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>3.57</mml:mn></mml:math>, 95% CI (1.66-7.69), <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M9"><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.001</mml:mn></mml:math>) was the only factor associated with favorable attitude on insulin self-administration. Conclusion . The knowledge and attitude on insulin self-administration among type 1 diabetic patients were substantially low. Diabetes and insulin self-administration education should be imparted by health professionals at each follow-up visit. Besides, strengthening of information, education, and communication (IEC) on the issue of diabetes and insulin self-administration using mass media (television/radio) plays paramount importance.