A multi-centred study on knowledge of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and adherence towards medications among caregivers of T1DM patients

Abstract

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), is a chronic disease caused by the autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic β cells, which function as insulin-producing cells. This study was aimed to assess the level of knowledge about T1DM and adherence to medications prescribed to T1DM patients at two different tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. This study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted using self-administered questionnaire. The respondents were among caregivers of paediatrics patients with T1DM attending Paediatrics Clinics from both study sites . The study period was between January 2018 until December 2018 while the data collection period was conducted between May to August 2018. The mean age (SD) of the respondents were 41.07 (7.699). Studied samples were found to have good knowledge (mean=65.98, SD=12.62) and poor adherence (mean=60.08, SD=24.72). The correlation between knowledge score and adherence score among caregivers of T1DM patients showed that they were significantly correlated. As for the association between adherence to medication and HbA1c level showed that they were insignificantly associated.