Title: A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE REGARDING SELF

CARE ACTIVITIES AMONG THE PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS IN

SELECTED HOSPITALS AT COIMBATORE.
Names of authors: JEENATH JUSTIN DOSS.K
Affiliation (designations with college address):M.Sc. NURSING, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,
JOITIBA COLLEGE OF NURSING
LCIT CAMPUS,
VISNAGAR TA.,BHANDU PO.,
MEHSANA DIST.
NORTH GUJARAT-384120
PH: 9558159445
Abstract:
The study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding self-care
activities among patients with diabetes mellitus
The study was conducted in two selected hospitals at Coimbatore .Total samples were 20
and equally (10) collected from both hospitals. Non probability purposive sampling technique
was used .The research tool was developed in English after an extensive of literature and experts
opinion it was translated in to Tamil by language experts .the structured questionnaire was used
as an instrument to measure the level of knowledge and 5 point likert scale was used to assess the
attitude regarding self-care activities regarding diabetes mellitus among diabetic patient in
selected hospitals at Coimbatore.
This study revealed that 3(15%) samples have inadequate knowledge, 13(65%) have
shown moderately adequate knowledge and 4(20%) have shown adequate knowledge and also
revealed that 16(80%) have favorable and 4(20%) have unfavorable attitude regarding self-care
activities regarding diabetes mellitus among diabetic patient in selected hospitals at Coimbatore.
Chi-square test was calculated to find out the association between the demographic variables
and the level of knowledge and attitude regarding self-care activities of diabetes mellitus among
diabetic patient and it resulted there is no any association between the demographic variable and
the level of knowledge and attitude regarding self-care activities of diabetes mellitus.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Knowledge, Attitude, Self care

Introduction:
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by increased levels of
glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia) resulting from defects in insulin amount of glucose
presents in the blood. The major sources of this glucose are absorption to ingested food in the
gastrointestinal tract and formation of glucose by the liver from food substances (Brunner and
suddarth et.al, 2007)
Diabetes is becoming more common in world wide. In 2000, the worldwide estimate of
the prevalence of diabetes was 171 million people, and by 2030, this is expected to increase to
366 million (Brunner and suddarth et.al, 2007)
For effective management of diabetes mellitus, the patient has to become controller of
this disease. Diabetes can be effectively controlled and complications are prevented by following
self-care activities regarding diet, exercise, medication, foot care and regular following.
Need for the Study
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, with which the patients must like his life to achieve a state of
health and acceptable level of function, patients with diabetes mellitus need to have adequate
knowledge and positive attitude of self-care activities such as diet, exercise, medication, foot
care and follow up. To lead an independent life, the individual with diabetes mellitus should be
controller of his own disease.
WHO estimated (2010)15 million people are suffering with diabetes mellitus worldwide
and it will be doubled in 2015.
In India the incident rate of diabetes mellitus is increasing day by day .The central
institute of diabetic care India reported one in every twelve urban Indian above the age of forty is
likely to be diabetic
There is an increasing amount of evident to suggest that patients education for people
with a chronic disease is an essential component of effective disease management.
As such, there is a need to investigate the knowledge and attitude among diabetic patients
to aid in future development of programmes and techniques for effective health education.
Knowledge, attitude, surveys are effective in providing baseline for evaluating intervention
programmes. So the researcher selected this preliminary study, with hope will provide insight for
the eventual lifestyle intervention study.
Objective of the study

To assess the Knowledge and Attitude regarding Self-care activities among the
patients with diabetes mellitus.

Material and Methods:

Research Design: The descriptive design was chosen for this study without randomization.
Setting: The study was conducted in selected hospitals at Coimbatore.
Population: Accessible population for this study includes diabetes mellitus patients (males,
females, age above 18 years) admitted in selected hospitals at Coimbatore.
Sample: Selected 20 samples from 2 hospitals.
Sampling Technique: The samples were selected for this study by non-probability purposive
sampling techniques.
Data analysis: The demographic variables were organized by using descriptive measures
(frequency and percentage).The association between the level of knowledge and attitude and the
selected demographic variables were assessed by Chi-square test.
Findings:
The study revealed that 1(5%) of the samples comes under the age group of 21 to 30
years, 1(5%) are in the age group of 31-40 years, 10(50%) are in the age group of 41-50
years and 8(40%) comes under the age group of 51 years and above.
The study revealed that 3(15%) samples have inadequate knowledge, 13(65%) have
moderate knowledge and 4(20%) have adequate knowledge regarding the self-care
activities of diabetes mellitus.
The study revealed that 16(80%) samples have favorable Attitude, 4(20%) samples have
unfavorable Attitude.
Conclusion
This study reveals that majority of the diabetic patient have moderately adequate
knowledge and favorable attitude regarding self-care activities of diabetes mellitus in selected
hospitals at Coimbatore. This might be because of strong community practice, public awareness
and hospital policies and procedures.
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