Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding physical activities among patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Background: Aging population, urbanization, dietary habits rich in carbohydrate, sedentary lifestyle, obesity and stress have contributed immensely to the increased prevalence of diabetes in our country. Diabetes is one of the main non communicable diseases that can be prevented by lifestyle modification. However, it has been a difficult and a challenging task to give the necessary health education in an effective manner and getting them to adhere to the recommended lifestyle modification. Objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding physical activities among patients with type 2 diabetes; attending General Practice clinics in the district of Colombo. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted, using 453 patients with type 2 diabetes attending fifteen general practice clinics in the district of Colombo. Thirty consecutive patients were selected from each randomly selected general practice clinic. Patients with type 2 diabetes, between 15-69 years of age, who have been attending the general practice clinic for more than three months, were selected for the study. All pregnant mothers and diabetics secondary to other illness were excluded. Data collection was done using a validated, pre tested, interviewer administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS statistical analysis package and comparison of continuous variables was done using student’s t test and the categorical variables were tested using chi-square test. Results: Mean age of the population was 56.5 years (+10.22) and 68.9% (n=312) of the subjects were females. Majority (79.5%) of patients in the study population were educated on the importance of physical activities and it was delivered mainly by the doctors (72.4%, n=328). However, most of the patients (58.3%, n=264) did not have adequate knowledge regarding physical activities. Although the knowledge was poor, the majority (77.9%, n=353) were having active lifestyle with adequate levels of physical activity with their daily activities. Conclusions: The majority of the patients did not have adequate knowledge regarding physical activities. Despite their poor knowledge, majority had adequate level of physical activity with their daily activities.

Keywords

• knowledge, attitudes, practices, physical activities, type 2 diabetes, general practice clinics