Diabetes-related knowledge awareness compared in type 2 diabetes patients and residents in a community of Shanghai

ObjectiveTo compare and analyze the diabetes-related knowledge among the type 2 diabetes patients, family members and general residents of a community in Jiading District of Shanghai, providing a basis for optimizing community diabetes health management services.

MethodsFrom November to December 2017, through multi-stage sampling, a face-to-face survey was conducted among residents aged 35 or more in Jiading District.The questionnaires included general information, health status, and knowledge about diabetes and so on.

ResultsA total of 1 091 residents were investigated, and 1 088 valid questionnaires obtained.The knowledge rate of diabetes prevention and treatment was 51.4%.The awareness rates of the three groups were patients (71.0%), patients′ family members (60.2%), and general residents (45.9%), with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05).The awareness rates of the four knowledge points were as follows typical symptoms (70.0%), risk factors (62.2%), complications (64.7%), and control measures (75.0%), with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01).The knowledge rate of diabetes prevention and treatment was higher in Shanghainese than in non-Shanghainese, and with the increase of education level and family per capita monthly income level, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).Patients′ knowledge of diabetes prevention and treatment was not affected by factors such as gender, education level, household registration and family per capita monthly income.Patients′ family members in their knowledge may be affected by factors such as gender and education level, while general residents by gender, household registration, education level and family per capita monthly income.

ConclusionThe popularization should be strengthened of knowledge of diabetes risk factors, and attention given to the low-income and low-educated non-Shanghainese male population.At the same time, the family members of the patients should be actively given health education of diabetes prevention and treatment knowledge.