Knowledge on Selected Aspects of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among the Adult Patients Attending Outpatient Department of 'Adhunik Zilla Hospital, Joypurhat, Bangladesh.

Background: Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder of which prevalence has been increasing silently and poses a major public health problem all over the world. Objective: To explore the level of knowledge about selected aspects of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus among the adult patients attending outpatient departments of Adhunik Zilla Hospital, Joypurhat, Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among adult patients aged 30-65 years irrespective of gender attending outpatient departments of Adhunik Zilla Hospital, Joypurhat. A pre-tested interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used for collecting data and the purposive sampling technique was used. The sample size was 434. Results: Out of 434 respondents (241, 55%) were female and (193, 45%) were male, majority (155, 36%) of them were in the age group of 30-39 years. their educational qualification were up to class V (195, 45%). occupation wise majority id them were in Day worker category (farmer, beggar, rickshaw puller, hawker) (334, 76%) and (232, 54%) of the respondents’ monthly family income was <10000 taka. As per our scoring scheme, the respondent's knowledge level in different aspects of type-2 Diabetes Mellitus - the knowledge level on general area of Type 2 DM was average (15/24 mean 2.36 and SD 1.29), the risk factors knowledge level was average (16/24 mean 2.56 and SD 1.24), sign symptoms’ knowledge level was good (26/36 mean 2.88 and SD 1.21) and the knowledge level about complications was also average (22/36 mean 2.44 and SD 1.31) The overall knowledge level score of the respondents about Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus was 200d, but the score was at the lower level of good knowledge as per our scoring scheme. (81/120, mean 2.28 and SD 915) Conclusion: Knowledge and health literacy is vital in the epidemiological change of any disease. The small scale hospital based study revealed the knowledge level is average to good in different facets of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among adult patients.