Knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms and associated factors among diabetic patients in Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia: A cross sectional study, 2021

Abstract

Background: Hypoglycemia is a common and serious complication of diabetes. Diabetic patients who lack knowledge of hypoglycemic symptoms might lead to delayed treatment and causes death. Despite one study in Ethiopia found that 51.2 % of diabetic patients had poor knowledge of identifying hypoglycemia symptoms, there is a paucity of study regarding knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms. Objective: This study aimed to explore knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms and associated factors among diabetic patients in Adama Hospital Medical College. Methods: Health institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February–March 2021. Systematic random sampling method was used to select 212 diabetic patients. Epi-data version 4.6 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 were used for data entry and analysis. Linear regression model (adjusted beta, 95 % confidence interval (CI), and p value < 0.05) was fitted to determine the predictor of knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms. Results: The mean knowledge of hypoglycemia symptom score was 64.63(±27.6). 68 % of the participants knew more than half symptoms of hypoglycemia. Excessive hunger is the most identified symptom of hypoglycemia. Experiencing hypoglycemia episodes (β = 19, 95 % CI 12, 26.9) and type of treatment (β = 22.6, 95%CI 4, 41) were associated with the knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms. Conclusions: This study showed that sixty-eight (32 %) of the participants know less than six symptoms. There is a visible knowledge gap regarding essential aspects of hypoglycemia symptoms among diabetic patients.

Keywords

• Hypoglycemia
• Symptoms
• Knowledge
• Ethiopia