Analysis of factors differentiating the level of knowledge of family clinic patients about the prevention of type 2 diabetes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21784/IwP.2025.013Keywords
type 2 diabetes, risk factors, symptoms, complications, prevention, knowledge, family clinicAbstract
Introduction. Diabetes is not only a huge health problem, but also a serious social and economic problem, it is one of the most dangerous diseases of modern civilization. The lack of basic knowledge about diabetes leads to ignoring the first symptoms of the disease, as well as to late diagnosis and an increase in the number of people suffering from this disease.
Aim. The main objective of the study is to analyze factors differentiating the level of knowledge of patients of a family clinic about the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Material and methods: Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Scale (FINDRISC) (Lindstrom Jaana, Tuomilehto Jaaklo, 2003) and a questionnaire of our own authorship. The study was conducted among 100 people over 18 years of age, patients of the Family Clinic.
Results. The conducted studies showed that the subjects had the following level of knowledge about type 2 diabetes: average about the disease (62%), average about risk factors (76%), average about the symptoms of the disease (48%), average about complications (80%), average about prevention (76%), diet preventing the disease (57%) and physical activity (74%). Gender differentiated the level of knowledge about the disease, risk factors, tertiary prevention of diabetes and physical activity to prevent the disease. Place of residence differentiated the level of knowledge about symptoms and physical activity to prevent the disease. Age differentiated the level of knowledge about symptoms, complications, prevention of the disease and primary prevention. The fact of diagnosis differentiated the level of knowledge about complications, prevention and secondary prevention.
Conclusions. The level of knowledge of society about type 2 diabetes is increasing (in the review of studies it was rather low), and in our own studies it was average. This knowledge is influenced to a varying extent by age, gender, education, place of residence or diagnosis of the disease. Health literacy is the main indicator determining health decisions and the consequences of these decisions. Their high level is a key factor in health and well-being, thus reducing health inequalities. This therefore emphasizes the need for further education focused on the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
References
1. Kałucka S. Rozpoznanie, zapobieganie, farmakoterapia stanu przedcukrzycowego u osób starszych. Jeden krok przed cukrzycą. Geriatria. 2013;7:149–156.
2. Pawlak-Sobczak K., Drygas W., Kwaśniewska M. i in. The level of knowledge od diabetic prevention in Poland – is there a phenomenon of pluralistic ignorance? International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 2021;34(5):667–678.
3. Kalinowski P., Bojakowska U., Kowalska ME. Ocena wiedzy pacjentów na temat powikłań cukrzycy. Med Og Nauk Zdr. 2012;18(4):302–7.
4. Kordas A. Najnowsze wyniki Europejskiego Badania Świadomości Cukrzycy Poznań: Termedia; 2011.
5. Niedostys B., Chrzan-Rodak A., Bartoszek A. i in. Kompetencje zdrowotne (umiejętności zdrowotne) – przegląd badań z wykorzystaniem Europejskiego Kwestionariusza Kompetencji Zdrowotnych (HLS-EU-Q47) w latach 2010–2018. Hygeia Public Health. 2019;54(2):105–13.
6. Nabrdalik K., Kwiendacz H., Florczyk I. i in. Knowledge about type 2 diabetes among visitors of two shopping centers in Upper Silesia, Poland: a survey research performed as a part of social action “Health under Control” Clin Diabetol 2018;7,4:182–188.
7. Binh T., Phuong P., Nhung B. Knowledge and associated factors towards type 2 diabetes among a rural population in the Red River Delta region, Vietnam. Rural Remote Health 2015; 15:3275.
8. Lorga T., Srithong K., Manokulanan P. i in. Public knowledge of diabetes in Karen Ethnic rural residents: a community-based questionnaires study in the far north-west of Thailand. Int J Gen Med. 2012;5:799–804.
9. Żebrowska M., Medak E., Pachuta M. i in. Ocena poziomu wiedzy pacjentów POZ na temat rozpoznawania i leczenia cukrzycy typu 2. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2017;7(7):338–356.
10. Sørensen K., Pelikan JM., Röthlin F. i in. Health Literacy in Europe: comparative results of the European Health Literacy survey (HLS-EU). Eur J Public Health. 2015;25(6):1053–8.
11. Marcinkiewicz A. Radomska A., Hanke W. i in. Czy cukrzycę można leczyć jako chorobę pośrednio związaną z pracą?. Med Pr. 2017;68(5):667–75.
12. Demaio A.R., Dugee O., de Courten M. i in. Exploring knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to alcohol in Mongolia: a national population-based survey. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:178.
13. Lemes Dos Santos P.F., Dos Santos P.R., Ferrari G.S. i in. Knowledge of diabetes mellitus: does gender make a difference? Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2014;5(4):199–203.
14. Antczak A., Myśliwiec M., Pruszczyk P. Wielka interna – diabetologia. Wydaw. Medical Tribune Polska 2010.
15. Drygas W., Niklas AA., Piwońska A. i in. Multi-centre National Population Health Examination Survey (WOBASZ II study): assumptions, methods, and implementation. Kardiol Pol. 2016;74(7):681–90.
16. Sobierajski T. Wyniki badań: społeczny obraz cukrzycy. Raport. Warszawa: Koalicja na rzecz Walki z Cukrzycą 2017.
17. Sobierajski T. Wyniki badań: społeczny obraz cukrzycy. Raport. Warszawa: Koalicja na rzecz walki z cukrzycą; 2010.
18. Strategia zapobiegania i leczenia cukrzycy w Polsce. Cukrzyca 2025. Instytut Praw Pacjenta i Edukacji Zdrowotnej.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dorota Kochman, Magdalena Grochowalska
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 26
Number of citations: 0