Knowledge assessment of self-care activities of diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care hospital

Diabetes self-care has been described as an evolutionary, sustainable process of knowledge development in chronic medical conditions. It has been discovered that there is a positive correlation between glycemic control and improvement in quality of life.

This study aims to evaluate the knowledge of self-care activities in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) and the effect of pharmacist-led intervention in glycemic control using Diabetes Self-Care Management Questionnaire-Revised (DSMQ-R).

The interventional study was conducted among diabetics in a tertiary care hospital for over 6 months. Baseline and follow-up data were analysed using t-tests and linear regression to assess changes in knowledge and their relationship with fasting blood sugar (FBS).

This study recruited 179 participants, predominantly in the 56–65 age group and mostly male (53%). Importantly 85% with prior T2DM diagnoses, addressing a specific population. The study successfully investigated the link between self-care knowledge and blood sugar control in T2DM patients. While the initial correlation between questionnaire data and fasting blood sugar was moderate (r = 0.027, p = 0.358), a meaningful 30.46% improvement in participants’ knowledge was observed (p < 0.05). Notably, half achieved good glycemic control, highlighting the positive impact of education on self-care practices. This confirms the potential of such interventions to empower individuals with T2DM management tools.

By demonstrating a significant improvement in knowledge and observing good glycemic control in a substantial portion of participants, the study highlights its potential to empower individuals with T2DM.