Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about Diabetes among Diabetes
Patients in Western Nepal

Dinesh K Upadhyay, Subish Palaian, P. Ravi Shankar, Pranaya Mishra

Abstract
Objectives: To study the demographic details of diabetes patients and their knowledge,
attitude and practices (KAP) regarding diabetes in Nepal.
Methods: The KAP of the diabetes patients visiting the Manipal Teaching hospital
(MTH) during the period from 22nd August to 7th December 2006 were studied by using
the KAP questionnaire developed by the researchers.
Results: Altogether 182 patients were enrolled in the study. There were 103 (56.59%)
males and 79 (43.41%) females. The greatest number of patients were in the age group of
51-60 years. A total of 685 drugs were prescribed to these patients. Antidiabetics were
the commonest class of drugs prescribed accounting for 314 (45.84%) of the total drugs.
The overall mean ( SD) scores of the patients was 7.78  3.8. Knowledge score was
4.90  3.34; attitude 2.03  0.95 and practice 0.840.76, with maximum possible scores
for knowledge, attitude and practice patient being 18, 4 and 3 respectively.
Conclusion: The KAP scores of the patients were low. This suggests the need for
educational interventions to improve the knowledge, attitude and practices of the diabetes
patients. (Rawal Med J 2008;33:8-11).

Key words: Attitude, diabetes, knowledge, practice.